Domenico Tedesco (36) introduced himself as RB Leipzig’s new coach on Thursday – and raved about the “innovative company”.
As RB Leipzig’s new hopeful sat on the podium of the press conference room at the Leistungszentrum Cottaweg early on Thursday afternoon, there was the usual mutual praise at first. RB managing director Oliver Mintzlaff began the introduction of Domenico Tedesco as the new coach of the Saxons with: “We are proud and pleased to present Domenico Tedesco as our new head coach.” And the new coach in turn let it be known that “the first impression was overwhelming”.
Mintzlaff did not use the word “dream coach” this time, as he did in July with Jesse Marsch, who has since been suspended, but the vice-champion’s managing director nevertheless made it clear that in the former coach of Erzgebirge Aue, Schalke 04 and Spartak Moscow, RB had “looked for and found a coach who has clearly defined the strengths of this team and who has clearly shown us what this team can do and what this team needs. “
We don’t have that much time to talk things through on the pitch
Tedesco had impressed Leipzig officials with a “fantastic analysis “(said technical director Christopher Vivell) during talks and is seen as the right coach to lead the Saxons, who have been well below their potential so far this season, back to winning ways and, if possible, a Champions League place. Tedesco is a coach who, after taking over, has always ensured “that the development always went quickly in the right direction”, said Vivell.
The new RB coach, who, according to his own statements, had devoted a lot of time to his family after his resignation in Moscow last May, but still watched many games, was also quickly convinced by his new employer. As a guest student during his coaching education and with Schalke 04, for example, he had already come into contact with RB Leipzig and noticed what he now formulated as follows: “RB Leipzig is a very innovative company with extreme potential and clear goals. Out of a possible ten points, the club has ten points. “
Tedesco knows he needs to succeed in the short term, just as he knows he has little time to get his content across to the team before Saturday’s league home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach . “We don’t have that much time to discuss things on the pitch,” stressed the 36-year-old, who wants to make the necessary adjustments in many talks with his players. “In a slimmed-down form”, he will already make his new team aware of his preferences in terms of content, Tedesco continued.
What the analysis of the Leipzig team, praised by Vivell as fantastic, has revealed, Tedesco wants to keep to himself. But he says: “When everyone is fit, the squad is really good.” And also: “That not everything always went right is also clear.” Tedesco now wants and should ensure as quickly as possible that things get back on track. Tedesco is not yet specific about the type of football the Saxons will play under him. “That always depends on the squad,” he says, adding that he is flexible and adapts to the squad. Nevertheless, Tedesco lets it slip that he shares “a similar understanding of the game” with his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann, even if he has his own style. “Everything that is good, I want to absorb. But everything that is tried and tested with me and that I know is good with me, the team will get to see in the same way. “
RB not planning any winter transfers
As new assistant coaches, Tedesco brings in ex-professional Andreas Hinkel (39, VfB Stuttgart, FC Sevilla, Celtic Glasgow, SC Freiburg) and Max Urwantschky (40), with the new man taking over the rest of the staff. Not, however, Achim Beierlorzer, who, like Marsch, has been released. However, Mintzlaff hints that the 54-year-old may still have a future at RB. Beierlorzer has been “kept open to stay with us”, he said – and “in a global role in the youth sector”.
There are to be no changes to the squad, however, as of now. Tedesco considers the squad to be sufficiently large in terms of quantity and quality, and technical director Vivell also says: “It doesn’t look like we’ll be doing anything. “
