RB Leipzig should be a powerhouse of German football every year. Hated by many German fans, the club founded in 2009 was, for a few years, one of the best teams in Germany. Regularly on the podium and in the Champions League, the Red Bull empire has had great players in its squad. Focusing on promising young players for several years, the RBL lost its luster last year. Despite a talented squad made up of Castello Lukeba, Loïs Openda, Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko, the club finished in seventh place. A poor performance which caused a lot of harm to the residents of the Red Bull Arena.
A summer transfer window which is bearing fruit
Unable to qualify for the European Cup with this seventh place, Leipzig lost many executives. Thus, Xavi Simons, Sesko and Openda slammed the door this summer just like Lustharel Geertruida and Arthur Vermeeren. To compensate for these major departures, Rasenballsport bought seven promising new players. The will-o'-the-wisp Johan Bakayoko from PSV, the promising Yan Diomande (18 years old), the box-to-box Ezechiel Banzuzi (20 years old), the former Sporting Portugal striker Conrad Harder (20 years old), the goleador Romulo (23 years old), the defender Max Finkgräfe (20 years old) and the one who is nicknamed the Messi of the Balkans Andrija Maksimovic (18 years old). And although the last two cities did not play much, all the others responded and brought even more quality to a group which already had it in numbers.
Flagship recruit of this summer transfer window, Bakayoko, who arrived for 18 million euros, quickly integrated. With a spectacular game that suits German football perfectly, the Belgian has two goals in six league appearances. In attack, Romulo, discovered anonymously from Göztepe, has already scored two goals while the start is slower for Conrad Harder. Unable to score, the Danish striker remains interesting in the game. Still not decisive, Yan Diomandé, young Ivorian nugget (2 caps, 2 goals), also brings his great percussion qualities to the fore in this team. Add to all this David Raum, Assan Ouédraogo, Christoph Baumgartner or especially Antonio Nusa and you will get a group that can perform this season.
And at the time of writing, RB Leipzig is in good shape and is having an excellent start to the season. Currently third in the Bundesliga, RB Leipzig has four wins, one draw and one defeat. A stunning performance for a team that few people expected at this level. In Germany, several explanations have been found to justify such a metamorphosis after a soporific year. Like OL in Ligue 1, Leipzig does not play spectacularly, but efficiently. Apart from the accident on the first day and the rout against Bayern Munich (6-0 defeat), the RBL has only conceded two goals in five matches. Leipzig have won twice by the narrowest of margins and have only eight goals scored in six matches. In short, a squad that defends much better and is much more balanced without big stars.
Jürgen Klopp fell for Ole Werner
One of the other architects of this promising start to the season is Ole Werner. Recruited after successful missions at Holstein Kiel and Werder Bremen, the 37-year-old coach caught the eye of Jürgen Klopp. The former Liverpool coach, now director of football at Red Bull, maintains a close relationship with Werner as the latter confided a few weeks ago: “what interests me here is that I find an environment where development is possible, for the players but also in the game. Here, we think differently, we work in an innovative way. Things are approached with a particular method. That's what I like about this position. Jürgen and I talked a lot. We quickly agreed on the image of the club and our way of playing. We want to continue to exchange.»
Leipzig
Hamburg
3:30 p.m.
1 1.37
N 4.90
2 5.70
Pragmatic and ready to do anything to win matches, the current tactician contrasts with Marco Rose, who had never really found the recipe that works with Leipzig. For the moment, everything is going well in the Land of Saxony. In this squad devoid of stars where each player enters the field for victory and to contribute to the building, the cocktail is tasty for the moment. The ambition is clear: return to the Champions League next season. A viable objective as Luca Hansen, journalist at Football Transfers : “qualification in C1 is entirely possible. Bayern and BVB are sure to qualify, but behind them Leipzig look to be the team most likely to qualify, as do Frankfurt, and perhaps Leverkusen if they get their act together.»The mission to reconquer RB Leipzig is well and truly underway. It will be necessary to confirm this Saturday at home against promoted Hamburg (3:30 p.m.) with a fifth victory in the championship.
