RB Leipzig have achieved the minimum goal of the Europa League. In the 2-1 win against Manchester City, Dominik Szoboszlai and Konrad Laimer were delighted with an improved performance and a success against an international heavyweight.
Laimer’s main regret was that Leipzig had to play in front of empty stands and hopes that the pandemic situation will soon allow some fans to return. The spectators missed a Leipzig eleven that had set out to “have fun playing football” and to “perform as a community”, as the 24-year-old revealed. And they succeeded in doing so for long stretches. Against a top team, they had found a “good mixture between standing deep and creating transition situations”, said the midfielder, who gave the motto for the next tasks: “Carry on where we left off today.
I noticed from the beginning that there was a lot of space between Walker and Stones. And then I kept running there. “
At this level, Szoboszlai would also like to continue, who was disarmingly honest with “Of course we asked ourselves why we don’t always play like this – but it’s football,” the Hungarian said. “We can play really badly, but today we showed that we can play really well against a top opponent,” said the leading scorer.
The plan was to go into the game with “courage and will “ and it worked. Just like the interplay between Laimer and Szoboszlai at 1:0, when the offensive player finished off an exemplary pass from the Austrian: “I noticed from the start that there was a lot of space between Walker and Stones. And then I kept running there. “
Klostermann questionable for Gladbach
Maybe with a boost in self-confidence they can find better form in the league. On Saturday, Leipzig will play host to Gladbach, who are also struggling – perhaps, and this could be a drop of bitterness, without Lukas Klostermann, who was substituted at the break due to muscular problems. Whether it is a structural problem with the defender, exact examinations will reveal.
For this, a duo could play a role again for the home appearance. Willi Orban as well as Amadou Haidara are expected to return to training on Thursday.
Definitely still missing will be Dani Olmo and Yussuf Poulsen, who, according to coach Achim Beierlorzer, would only return to action in the new year.
