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It’s nearly time for the DFB-Pokal semi-final! RB Leipzig will face SC Freiburg away from home on Tuesday 2nd May at 20:45 CEST.
As usual, Marco Rose was at the press conference to answer the media’s questions ahead of the game. RBL’s head coach spoke about the strengths of Christian Streich’s team, the emotions in this knockout game and RBL being clinical in front of goal.
Team News
All the players came off the pitch without any major injuries after the win against Hoffenheim on Saturday, so apart from the long-term injured players, all the rest are fit and ready for the match.
Xaver Schlager is expected to be involved in team training in the coming week following his syndesmosis ligament injury.
- All the latest team news, including updates on Peter Gulacsi and the rest of the team, can be found in our team news update.
Marco Rose on…
…the tension and emotions of a cup final rematch
- “We don’t have to make it more or less than it really is. Both teams absolutely want to reach the final. It is a great game for both clubs and there’s a lot at stake. It’s about a trophy, prestige and the experience of a cup final.
That’s why I don’t think I need to stir up emotions or hold them back. I think the boys are fired up and will find the right level of emotion, since emotions can enhance your performance to some extent.
I wasn’t there last year, but if the guys remember that and can use it for themselves, then I’m happy. But on the other hand, it’s also motivation for Freiburg. It’s been a while since then, so you can’t take too much from it anymore.”
… SC Freiburg’s strengths
- “They are simply a good team with German, Austrian and Italian international players, among others. They have been playing together for years and know their game well. In Christian Streich, they have a coach who keeps everything together.
They have been very clinical this season, defend with passion and work together very well as a team. They are really intense in and out of possession and know how to win games.
We know what to expect when it comes to set pieces, Freiburg are exceptionalin that area, as well. Zicogives great sessions and has prepared the boys excellently.”
I think the boys are fired up and will find the right level of emotion.
…the unique situation of consecutive games against Freiburg
- “For us as a coaching team, it’s easy because we have the same opponent twice, so we don’t have to make a big adjustment and start watching a lot of games.
We will see the result and the performance tomorrow evening and then we can possibly use that for the league game a few days later, but you have to take it day by day in football. The crucial thing is the cup game tomorrow night. That’s what we’ve been preparing for.”
…an early comeback for Xaver Schlager
- “Xaver is an incredibly professional player. We are discussing the plan with him and are in daily contact. At the moment, it’s looking quite good, and we feel we are taking an optimistic approach.
He will be fully involved in team training next week at the latest. But Xaver is also professional and smart enough to know when he can help the team. We’ll sit down together before the Bremen game and talk about it, but as always, there is no set number of days or exact time.
It would be nice if he could play a part again this season, and that doesn’t look too unrealistic at the moment.”
…the recipe for success tomorrow evening
- “We need a lot of confidence in our strengths and quality. We have a few important players who have come back and are finding their rhythm again. We need the right level of emotion and intensity to take on Freiburg’s momentum, as well. We have to be very alert, because everything will happen quickly.
We have to be able to defend their style of football, but also try and play a simple game out there, which includes first and second balls. We want to be able to use our chances both in attack and in positional play.
If we do that with a lot of energy, we will get opportunities. We have to stay clear and believe in ourselves. That’s important in order to go into the game like this with the right mindset.”
We need a lot of confidence in our strengths and quality.
…being clinical in front of goal in recent weeks
- “I am pleased that we have created the chances, and now it would of course be great if it all came together in that final phase and a few things were made easier for us. That would have helped us.
But if that’s not the case, we have to battle hard and also win tight games like against Hoffenheim. In the end, no one will ask about it today, tomorrow or the day after. All in all, everything is going well.”
…coming up against Christian Streich
- Christian is emotional and so am I, too. We can probably both laugh at ourselves every now and then after games in which something went very wrong. It’s nice to have guys like that.
But in the game, we tend to take care of ourselves as well. Sometimes you can calm each other down with a glance here and there. I appreciate him as a colleague who has a lot of emotion.
