We are Leipzig!
The match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday 19th August (15:30 CEST) marks the start of our eighth campaign in the Bundesliga. Before the game, we spoke to head coach, Marco Rose.
The full interview can be found on YouTube
Marco, the start of the Bundesliga is on the horizon once again. How much are you looking forward to the new season?
- “A lot! We really enjoyed the Supercup game and are leaving a tough pre-season behind us, so everyone involved in the club – the lads, the staff, the fans – is happy that the Bundesliga is getting going again.”
In pre-season, there was a lot of change in the squad. Did you find that unusual?
- “No, actually. The upheaval in the squad wasn’t planned, but, as ever, we take it as it comes. Our management, Max Eberl, Rouven Schröder and Felix Krüger, and our scouting team have done a great job and we’ve brought in some really good players.
It’s fun to work with this group of players. We’re always focused on the players we have available to us anyway. It was amazing how quickly we settled together as a group and how quickly we were able to generate such great energy in the training camp, too
We don’t look back at the past so often as a result, rather we’re excited for what lies ahead – the boys are already in good spirits!”
To what extent are you, as the head coach, involved in transfers?
- “There wasn’t much hierarchical thinking. Anyone can have an idea and bring it up. Then, everyone gets together and discusses the position profile. We work side by side from the outset and eventually we reach the stage where we say, “Okay, are we meeting or not.”
Not every transfer works out, which is completely normal. In my opinion, we’ve made some very good signings, though we can’t replace every player that leaves perfectly.”
What do you value when you meet a new player?
- “I’m unbiased and very open. Of course, I’m interested first and foremost in what makes the player tick, how he is as a person. When we meet, I generally know at the very least that he fits into our system.
After that, it’s all about whether he’s a good fit for us and for the team. Then, it’s simply a matter of checking whether it can work for both parties. And if that’s the case, then we bring him in.”
What are your goals going into the new season?
- “We always dream big and don’t want to become complacent. We want to win matches – all of them, in fact – like we did recently in Munich. It’s a big aspiration and one that doesn’t always work out.
When we win a lot, then we’ll make big strides in the league. We’ll go deep in the Pokal and get to the next stage of the Champions League. The most important thing is that we stick together – that’s my main goal.”
What do you mean by that?
- “We want to play in a specific way; we want to stand out in a few areas. We’ve made signings in the summer and got off to a good start. For me, it’s important that we’re at it from the first minute, that we stay hungry, that we knuckle down and don’t take our foot off the gas.
The first game against Leverkusen already represents a real test. It’ll be a big challenge for us, so we’ve got to be on the ball again.”
Can you remember anything about playing Leverkusen from when you were a player?
- (laughs) “I know that I got a red card once after Nikolce Noveski, who was normally a really reliable centre-back for Mainz 05, made a slight mistake. I had to save the day, but didn’t have the pace that you would’ve needed.
It was the right decision to make in that scenario, since we got a 1-1 draw when all was said and done.”
We’ve won two trophies in the past few months. How do you keep this success in mind?
- “You always try to ensure that these experiences aren’t forgotten too quickly, but that just happens in football. Nevertheless, the crucial thing is that no one can take it away from us. End of story. That’s something that you’ve always got to keep in mind.
Now, it will show in RB Leipzig’s brief history that we’ve won the DFB-Pokal twice and the Supercup. As I said, no one can take that away from us.
The wheel keeps on turning, and it’s a good thing that it does, too! If we keep doing well, then we’ll be able to enjoy moments like thatagain. That’s what makes it so exciting: to work on things, to want it more, to up the ante, to keep at it, just to experience those little moments all over again. It’s really cool and a lot of fun.”
Our fans loved your outfit at the Pokal celebrations. How is your Pokal hat?
- “There’s a bit of a story behind it. At the party, Medina Desic from our women’s team was wearing this hat, while I had my baseball cap on. At some point we just swapped. I liked it so much that I didn’t give it back.
The next day, the whole team was wearing the hat, which turned out to be a bit of a hit. Of course, it’s still my hat and I’m not giving it back.”
We want to win with a specific type of football. What can fans look forward to, as far as the new season is concerned? What are we guaranteed to do and what do we want to do?
- “We should be like Leipzig! Leipzig is a cool city, an open-minded city, a youthful city. It’s well worth living here. I think that we should try being like that as a club. We should try getting that idea across. We can laugh at ourselves, too, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
Let people talk, we’ll focus on ourselves. I’m pleased with the path we’re on, I think it’s cool. We should try to continue down this path. The things that have developed here over the years and the things that have grown around it, including the stuff incorporated into the fan culture, are just great.
And if we manage to keep working on things, getting people on our side, then we can carry on down this path together as a club.”
