Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Without a trainer and a captain
The shock overtakes RB shortly before the “final”
RB Leipzig is fighting to stay in the Champions League. And the task will be even more difficult shortly before leaving for the first final about wintering in the premier class: The coach and the goalkeeper will not be able to help: hours before departure, both will test positive.
Corona shock shortly before departure: A few hours before the departure for the European final at FC Bruges, the positive tests by coach Jesse Marsch and captain Peter Gulacsi caused great excitement at Bundesliga soccer club RB Leipzig. The runner-up must be in the Champions League on Wednesday (9 p.m. / DAZN and in the live ticker on ntv.de) forego the clock march and his regular goalkeeper in the preliminary game in Belgium. The club announced after the final training.
Marsch is already in domestic isolation, with Gulacsi, after a positive rapid test, confirmation by a PCR test was still pending. The club emphasized that in the licensed player area all players and coaches are either fully vaccinated or have recovered. In addition, co-trainer Marco Kurth has a positive corona test in the family environment, which is why he does not travel to Belgium. In Bruges, Achim Beierlorzer will be on the sidelines as head coach.
It goes without saying that the unrest in view of the already tense situation in Leipzig is anything but beneficial. After all, the troubled cup finalist has to win in Bruges in order to at least preserve the chances of being relegated to the Europa League after the already playful round of 16 in the premier class. “We clearly have the goal of wintering in Europe. It won’t be easy in Bruges,” said playmaker Kevin Kampl.
How uncomfortable the small club not far from Belgium’s North Sea coast is to play, the RB professionals still know from the first leg. There they gave away an early lead and ultimately lost 2-1, completely deservedly. Midfielder Hans Vanaken and storm jewel Charles de Ketelaere repeatedly presented the Leipzig defense with immense problems. After all, Leipzig benefits from the abolition of the away goal rule. A simple 1-0 in Bruges would currently be enough to push yourself in front of the competition, as you have a better goal difference overall.
“Possibly achieve something great”
Ultimately, you will be satisfied with every victory, especially since after the catastrophic Bundesliga presentation at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim there was again unrest. The convincing win against Borussia Dortmund before the international break has long been forgotten. Cynics may now say that at least one cannot blame Marsch if things go wrong in Bruges too.
Defensive boss Willi Orban is convinced that they will reach the Europa League – and is already dreaming of the final. “We have the opportunity to get to the final and possibly achieve something big,” said the Hungarian international of “Sport Bild”. If you accept the Europa League as a big competition, you can go a long way. It would be the second title chance this season after the DFB Cup.
Few of them in Leipzig are as visionary as the 29-year-old at the moment. The latest league performance was too frightening. After the last solid games, it was hoped that the team would finally internalize what coach Marsch wants from them. But recently there has been more of a perplexity. Marsch is quite willing to implement the team’s wishes in addition to his own ideas. After much hesitation, he switched to a three-way chain in the defense.
At the request of the players, he is now increasingly giving his speeches in English. The American speaks German very well, but in his native language, Marsch can clearly handle the players much better. “Especially when it comes to motivation, it comes across as even more authentic and cool,” Orban emphasized. However, Orban has to do without the motivational skills of his head coach in Bruges.