Now the first title is coming
“Ripped off” Leipzig hardly has time to celebrate
04/15/2022, 12:15 p.m
For the second time in the club’s young history, RB Leipzig made it into a European Cup semi-final. But there was no great jubilation – there was no time for that at all. Because the Bundesliga soccer team is already looking forward to more. The trophy cabinet of the Saxons is still empty.
Compared to the euphoric images after the Eintracht coup in Barcelona, Leipzig celebrated their semi-finals almost reserved. Of course, RB was also very happy, but the really big break shouldn’t start until May 18th at the final in Seville – with the silver trophy in their hands. “The belief is of course there,” said captain Peter Gulacsi.
Coach Domenico Tedesco, who has brought the “Bulls” back to title form since he took up his post four months ago, is far from having enough. “We haven’t achieved anything yet, we’re striving for more now,” emphasized the German-Italian after the 2-0 (1-0) win in the second leg of the quarter-finals at Atalanta Bergamo. After the 1-1 draw in the first leg, it was enough to advance. “If you’re in the semifinals,” added Tedesco, “of course you want to get to the final.”
On the way there, however, RB has to get Glasgow Rangers out of the way. The traditional Scottish club, which knocked out Borussia Dortmund in the second round, is visiting Leipzig on April 28th. A week later, the second leg takes place in the atmospheric Ibrox Stadium.
“Very ripped off played”
With a performance like Thursday’s in Bergamo, RB doesn’t need to hide from the 55-time Scottish champions. Unlike in the first leg, the Leipzig team, who were a little lower, also kept up better physically with the “machines” (Tedesco) from Lombardy. “We defended it really well,” said goalkeeper Gulacsi, “and played very ripped off.”
And at the front you could once again rely on Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman scored his number 29 and 30 goals of the season, and he cleverly took the penalty kick to make it 2-0 (87th). If the 24-year-old attracts such attention on the big stage in the semi-finals and in the possible final, the top international clubs are likely to queue up for a commitment. RB can push the price up, Nkunku’s contract runs until 2024.
Unbeaten since 13 competitive games
Tedesco, however, did not want to give special praise. “All in all, it was a great team effort,” he said. “I’m proud of the team.” She has been unbeaten for 13 competitive games – Tedesco, as the successor to the hapless Jesse Marsch, has made the right adjustments. “We’ve made great progress in the last four months, we’re getting better and better,” said striker Yussuf Poulsen.
Where else can this lead? “We don’t think about it that much, we don’t have the time either,” said Tedesco, “it’s happening in quick succession.” On Sunday (7.30 p.m./DAZN and in the ntv.de live ticker) asks Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga for the Champions League duel, three days later the semi-finals in the DFB Cup against Union Berlin. No wonder that the people of Leipzig didn’t feel like celebrating after the second semi-final in their young European Cup history.