Leon Goretzka (R) of Bayern Munich vies for header with Andreas Ulmer of RB Salzburg during their UEFA Champions League group A match in Munich, Germany, Nov. 25, 2020. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
There seems to be nothing better than words of appreciation coming from 2020 treble winner Bayern Munich.
By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- There seems to be nothing better than words of appreciation coming from 2020 treble winner Bayern Munich.
The Bavarians' chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently spoke about their emerging rivals RB Leipzig as a new serious threat on the national stage. "They are doing a great job, and their development is obvious," the 65-year-old said, adding: "One has to watch out."
Surviving the tough Champions League group containing Paris St. Germain and Manchester United, the team from eastern Germany gave evidence that they are also capable of making their way on the international stage.
Four wins and 12 points might tell the fantastic story of a club which was promoted to Germany's first tier only five years ago.
TACTICAL VARIETY
"Last season, we made the semifinals, now we have reached the knock-out stage, it proves we are no one-hit-wonder but continually on the up," defender Willi Orban commented after the side's 3-2 victory over struggling Premier League side Manchester United.
United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must have felt vindicated after saying before kick-off, "If there is one unpredictable team in Europe, it's Leipzig."
The Norwegian referred to RB's ability to learn and come up with different tactical strategies.
Counting on high crosses in the first leg against the English side (5-0), RB changed its approach this time.
"They easily defended our high crosses in Manchester, now we came up with flat passes targeting the far post. That's what they don't like too much," coach Julian Nagelsmann underlined.
Picking agile strikers such as Dani Olmo, Emil Forsberg, Christopher Nkunku, and Yussuf Poulsen against United's robust defense paid off.
RIPENING PROCESS
"We had several tight games over the past weeks but never lost control," Nagelsmann stated.
The Leipzig coach admitted the 3-3 away draw last weekend in Munich gave his team a motivation boost and was proof they had improved.
When considering the upcoming challenge against United, RB smartly saved energy by accepting the draw instead of exerting themselves unduly in an energy-sapping finish.
In its 5th year in the first division, Leipzig is playing for the fourth time in an international competition.
Being guaranteed 12.7 million euros by UEFA for a place in the round of the last 16 widens the club's economic options.
ANGELINO WINS HEARTS
The on-loan fullback from the Citizens has not only conquered the fans' hearts but has his coach's admiration.
Tirelessly covering the left flank, the left-footed defender has developed into RB's most successful scorer with seven goals and five assists in 17 games in all competitions.
Failing to make a breakthrough at his six previous clubs, the Spaniard seems a perfect match for Leipzig. The club owns a buying option worth 18 million euro.
"I like players wanting to win every game and showing that ambition while on the pitch," Nagelsmann said.
GIFTED COACH
Aged 28 at the time, the Bavarian-born manager became the Bundesliga's youngest coach at TSG Hoffenheim in 2016.
After saving the club from relegation, he finished fourth and third in the national league's following seasons.
Announcing he wanted to win some silverware, Nagelsmann joined Leipzig in 2019.
The club's managing director Markus Kroesche said their coach has a similar approach as Bayern's Hansi Flick. "They both put opponents under intense pressure to trigger mistakes," Kroesche said.
The RB coach is well-known for unconventional training methods and tactical surprises. ■
