It’s simply not enough for Leipzig in the Champions League. The coach and captain clearly admit that. To make matters worse, there is also a risk that the key player will be out.
Top in the Bundesliga, flop in the Champions League: RB Leipzig is in the premier class crisis, and there is a risk of an early exit internationally. On the big stage, the team simply lacks format after three defeats in three games. “In the Bundesliga it’s enough to defend well, you always get your space,” said captain Willi Orban after the 0-1 defeat against Liverpool FC. “Unfortunately that’s not enough in the Champions League, where you have to play the opponent deeply and precisely.”
And now? A win at Celtic Glasgow in two weeks is a must. Otherwise, only four games remained to get the “eight to ten points” necessary, according to coach Marco Rose, to move into the next round. Mind you, against opponents like league leaders Aston Villa and the also unbeaten Inter Milan and Sporting Lisbon. For RB – after all, second in the Bundesliga and tied on points with leaders Bayern Munich – the new Champions League could feel over with a defeat in Glasgow.
Great concern for Simons
Especially since the most important player is also threatened with failure. Xavi Simons had to leave the field injured a good ten minutes before the end against Liverpool and was supported by two supervisors. Rose did not want to speculate about the severity of the injury, but a long-term absence cannot be ruled out. In this case, “we are gradually threatened with a loss of substance.” David Raum, Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Seiwald are currently injured.
When it comes to overwintering in the Champions League, no one is pressing the panic button yet. “The situation hasn’t improved. The fewer games there are, the more pressure increases to get something countable,” said Rose and added smugly: “That means we’re welcome to start doing that in the next game.”
The class is missing
While the defeats at Atlético Madrid and against Juventus Turin were avoidable, they simply lacked class against Liverpool. “We were too unclean with the ball, too imprecise, we were too impatient, especially in the final third,” Orban analyzed. Rose summed up “that we are missing something to actually earn something worth counting in the three games.”
The team would have to be a step further compared to last year. Only Dani Olmo was released from the regular lineup, but the Spanish international spent a significant part of the season in the medical department. However, Leipzig lacks the X factor on offense, especially when Simons is weak and gets lost too often in his dribbling.
Unused opportunity
Apart from Loïs Openda’s two goals that were disallowed for offside, Leipzig only created one big chance. Benjamin Sesko missed it in the second half. “There’s the next issue. Effectiveness at this level,” Rose said. “If you want to get something out of the Champions League against teams like that, then you have to get something out of the chances you have.”
Hope alone dies last – and thanks to the new mode, a lot is still possible if you win in Glasgow. “Of course our expectations are not satisfactory now. We now have five games left and I believe that the playoffs are absolutely possible,” said Orban. On Saturday it’s Bundesliga time again against Freiburg. And things are going great for Leipzig.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
