Zero points after three games. Despite the respectable performance in the 2:3 in Paris, RB Leipzig is facing elimination from the Champions League. The coach of the Saxons therefore spoke plainly afterwards.
“We made a very, very serious mistake. It’s hard to accept and I don’t know why we made it so easy for the opponent at such a moment. And when that happens at this level, Messi and Mbappé are ready,” Jesse Marsch lamented on “DAZN” after the game about the arguably decisive scene in the 67th minute, when Tyler Adams had ultimately pushed the ball right into the path of Kylian Mbappé in his own half – and in the direction of Lionel Messi’s 2-2 equaliser.
“Well played, but not well enough “
To that point, Mbappé – and Lionel Messi – had not possessed a single clear-cut chance since the former’s 1-0 goal as late as the opening stages, which is why Marsch also took positives from the match. “We played well. We often had control of the game, a lead in the second half and actually had everything under control. We played well with the ball and with calmness. We had chances and were dangerous again with standards and often controlled the opponent,” summed up the US-American, who added that this was nevertheless “not good enough” due to the decisive mistakes.
Konrad Laimer took a more positive view, admitting that his team had been “perhaps too naive, too young, too wild” in one or two situations. But: “All in all, I think we can be proud of a team that was not a whit worse than them, or rather not better. Sometimes football is not fair. We didn’t take the one or other chance, they took every mistake in their stride, that’s normal at this level sometimes,” said the Austrian.
Laimer: “Take momentum and power with us “
The RB players are also aware that Leipzig’s chances of surviving in the Champions League – with ManCity six points behind and leaders PSG seven points behind – have been reduced to a theoretical minimum. “We have our backs to the wall, as we did before the game. If we had scored one more point, more would have been possible, especially for the Europa League,” said Marsch, especially as Brugge (four points) are still at least a little within reach. “But this way it will be difficult. We have to make fewer mistakes.”
Laimer, at least, has not given up hope yet. “We have shown that we can keep up and still want to get as many points as possible to maybe still play internationally next year. We see the positive and hope to take the momentum and power into the next few weeks. “
