RB Leipzig – Horror first round: Leipzig’s luxury squad has a mentality problem

The catastrophic first half of the season has come to a fitting end for RB Leipzig. The 0-2 disgrace against Arminia Bielefeld has left its mark – also on the new coach Domenico Tedesco.

The coach complained of “naivety”, the head of defense criticized “team-damaging” behavior, the captain called for a “different face”: The right end to the worst Bundesliga first half of the club’s history has finally set RB Leipzig in a mood of alarm.

In the even deserved 0: 2 (0: 0) defeat against the table penultimate Arminia Bielefeld, the luxury squad of the runner-up took a sporty oath of revelation. And not only that: An ego attack by Nordi Mukiele suggests a major mentality problem. “It is important that every player knows that only RB Leipzig counts,” emphasized coach Domenico Tedesco after the first defeat under his direction.

Mukiele had moved slowly to the sidelines when he was substituted (65th) when the score was 0: 1, and Tedesco’s wild waving of his hands did not accelerate his pace either. If that’s true, said defender Willi Orban, “it’s anything but serious and mature, but rather naive behavior and also damaging to the team.”

The Hungarian international indicates that not everyone is aware of the seriousness of the situation: “Everyone has to take responsibility and question whether they are playing at their maximum.”

Leipzig’s appearance in Bielefeld: “Naive”

The answer can really only be “no” for all of them. Measured against the “best squad” in RB history, as officials raved about before the season, a measly 22 points after 17 league games are a disastrous result. The news that Emil Forsberg (thigh) was absent for several weeks drove the mood even deeper on Sunday.

After the Bielefeld bankruptcy, Tedesco used the word “naive” several times. The trainer would have preferred to start training again right after Christmas, but the plan that was made under his predecessor Jesse Marsch is not being shaken. The team will get back together on January 2nd, and the pace should be rougher in the second half of the season.

Perhaps then the strong sports director will already be on board, whom Leipzig wants to sign during the winter break if possible. He could support Tedesco in leading the team, which is necessary given the apparently damaged team spirit. That and much more should have been the subject of the analysis session on Sunday with the trainer and manager team.

RB Leipzig has to “do kilometers quickly”

“We have to shake a bit,” said managing director Oliver Mintzlaff Sky, “It wasn’t a good first half of the season, there was a lot of unrest.” In the second half of the season, the team had to “quickly make kilometers” in order to qualify for the Champions League. But for this, the mentality problem must also be resolved. You have to “show a different face,” demanded goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

The first work-up had already taken place after the final whistle. The team had holed up in the cabin for half an hour and talked clearly. “Of course there are a lot of emotions involved, that’s why we are angry and have analyzed a lot,” reported Orban. More talks would follow, “and then we will attack again in the new year”.

Bundesliga: The table on Saturday evening