On the pitch, Marco Rose gets loud in his first training session on US soil. But Leipzig’s coach seems anything but dissatisfied – and nurtures confidence that key player Xavi will remain his protégé this season
Despite a police escort, Marco Rose and his players had to wait more than an hour on the bus before they reached the training center of Leipzig’s sister club New York Red Bulls in Hanover Township in the state of New Jersey. But neither the travel, the jet lag nor the sweaty conditions in the 26-degree temperatures and high humidity, even without any activity, could dampen the Leipzig coach’s spirits.
“We knew what to expect. We were all awake early, which is why we trained early. We should all be very grateful and not look for things that could be better. It’s everything we wanted it to be,” said Rose after the demanding session, recalling the mission of the week-long tour: “It’s a great organized trip where we have the task of improving ourselves athletically and preparing for the season. And where we have the task of representing the Bundesliga and our club. It’s an absolute privilege. “
50 RB fans and Forsberg at training
17 professionals and nine young talents share this privilege with Rose. At Monday’s training session, the coach immediately made it clear with a very committed performance that he is far from letting the reins slip. He repeatedly interrupted the game forms loudly and gesticulously, demanding more concentration, precision and, above all, more intensity. “Stop, stop” kept echoing around the training ground, where around 50 fans from Leipzig and long-time RB idol Emil Forsberg, who moved to the big Apple club in the winter, were among those watching the drills
The 32-year-old Swede, who is also currently out of action due to a persistent Achilles tendon injury, will no longer play a role in Leipzig’s squad planning in the present and future. This is in stark contrast to Xavi, who is eleven years younger and whose re-loan from Paris St. Germain Leipzig are fighting vehemently for. Rose fueled Leipzig’s increasingly optimistic statements on Monday with the words: “It doesn’t look too bad for us. It looks like he’s decided to take his good year in Leipzig into his development, which of course isn’t over yet. He can become a leading player with us and take on responsibility so that at some point – it doesn’t have to be next year – he can take the next step.” However, Rose also added: “But we’re not through, there are still a few talks to be held.”
At the beginning of next week, Rose expects to have a clear idea of which squad he can plan with. “We know that something can still happen, we’re prepared for that. But it looks like the majority of us will stay together,” said the coach on the overall situation: “After the trip to the USA, everyone will be involved, then it’s time for the final spurt and fine-tuning.” It is clear that some players “will have to make do with one and a half to two weeks of preparation due to the long European Championship vacation. “
Injured Baumgartner “behaved mega-professionally “
Christoph Baumgartner will not even have that time and is therefore in danger of missing the start of the season. The Austrian had to undergo what the club described as “minor surgery” on his knee because an injury he suffered during the European Championships made itself felt again while on vacation. “Hopefully it’s nothing dramatic and he’ll be back on the pitch quickly,” said Rose, vehemently refuting speculation that the Austrian may have delayed the injury. In fact, Baumgartner had returned from his vacation a week earlier than planned, said the coach: “The player behaved in a mega-professional manner. “