Champions League: “Is and will remain our player”: RB in the Gvardiol clamp

Josko Gvardiol demoted miracle striker Erling Haaland to a pitiful extra. The Croatian World Cup star kept the dream of the quarterfinals of the Champions League alive – and that was not the only reason why it was the top topic at RB Leipzig.

Because the 21-year-old defender is extremely popular with the clubs in the English Premier League, which are apparently equipped with favorable dispo conditions, which raises the sleep-depriving question for sports director Max Eberl: Can Leipzig keep its talented squad together and premier class evenings like the Experience 1: 1 in the round of 16 first leg against Manchester City permanently?

“Leipzig is definitely not a sales club,” emphasized Eberl and then sent a little begging in the case of Gvardiol: “Leipzig can offer a lot.” Eberl, like coach Marco Rose, has great ambitions and wants to make Leipzig a permanent champion candidate. Gvardiol, who is tied until 2027 and headed the equalizer against City on Wednesday evening, is an important pillar. After the City game, Rose emphasized that the Croatian would not be able to realize his recently renewed lifelong dream of the Premier League in the short term: “As a coach, I want to work with the best players because we want to develop things further. Josko is our player and will remain ours Player.”

Gvardiol as a key personality?

While the departures of Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich) and Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea FC) are said to have already been decided in the summer, Gvardiol could become something of a key person. On the one hand, the Saxons could probably earn more than 110 million euros with the Croatian in the summer of 2024 due to an exit clause. On the other hand, if the 21-year-old were to remain, it would be something like a signal that the club is not just seen as a stepping stone by its youngsters.

Eberl is also struggling with Leipzig’s past. Under ex-boss Oliver Mintzlaff, every player was for sale as long as the price was right. A considerable 53 million euros were knocked out for Timo Werner, and defenders Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano each received a good 40 million. Everyone is replaceable, talents are a dime a dozen, that’s how Mintzlaff’s thinking was perceived.

And so Leipzig established itself as a highly interesting stopover for top talents such as Nkunku, Gvardiol or the Spanish noble technician Dani Olmo. Eberl now wants to take the club to the next level and therefore has a problem. “We want to collect titles and we need good players for that,” said the 49-year-old on DAZN. He emphasized that RB had shown in the past that players could be retained. However, he had to provide his statement with a crucial addition: “How long, we will see.”

Change of course by Eberl?

Because the contract extensions of Werner and Nkunku, which were celebrated by the Leipzig PR machine in the past, ultimately only served to secure deals for the following summer and to stand there with their pockets as full as possible. Commercially absolutely understandable, but in terms of sport you can’t get anywhere. So Eberl has to underpin the change of course away from the sales association. This could be achieved by holding Gvardiol and Olmo for the long term or by acquisitions that are as prominent as they are expensive. Supposedly they are interested in the not exactly affordable Canadian Jonathan David from OSC Lille.

However, the present and pioneering future personality is called Gvardiol. He can make an even bigger name for himself in the league of his dreams in two weeks’ time when Leipzig play the second leg at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium. His previous record against Haaland: Zero goals by the Norwegian in two duels. With such a CV, the path inevitably leads to the best league in the world. Marco Rose ultimately took the subject with a little humor: “He said he wanted to go to the Premier League, but he didn’t say when.”