Bundesliga team introductions: hated Leipzig wants another trophy. Can it conquer the Bundesliga?

RB Leipzig has become a permanent fixture at the top of the table after its promotion to the elite. Last season, however, this stability was in jeopardy. However, a change of coach helped the team to reach fourth place, and they also managed to win their first trophy. Can Domenico Tedesco build on his success and improve it?

The management team

Leipzig entered last season with a new coach. It should have been a seamless transition. Julian Nagelsmann, who left for Bayern, was replaced by Jesse Marsch from Salzburg. But from the start, Marsch failed to build on his success in Austria.

In December he was replaced by Domenico Tedesco, former Schalke coach and a talented progressive coach. He also brought in new assistants and things started to turn around. In the league, the club reached the top four, plus they dominated the German Cup. A near-tragic season became a successful one.

Goalkeeper

Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi is the team’s long-time number one. Among other things, he is also the captain and nothing will change that this season. After all, he has maintained his standard for a long time and has not made any mistakes.

Defence

The rest of the line-up is not so sure. The reason is simple. Leipzig has some great and typologically different players. Already coach Nagelsmann liked a lot of variation and the composition of the squad still looks like that. So Tedesco can wash his hands, he can play in a different formation practically every game.

However, we can expect a three-stopper game, with Willy Orbán and Joško Gvardiol the most frequent players. Marcel Halstenberg, who was an alternate here at the end of last season, and Mohamad Simakan will battle for the third spot.

It will be interesting to see how Leipzig will occupy the edges of the defence, where they will use wing-backs. Angeliño would be the obvious choice on the left side, but he may well leave and RB have prepared well for his eventual sale. From Hoffenheim came David Raum, who may not score as many goals, but he’s picking up even more assists. Lukas Klostermann could be the main man on the right.

Backup

A very interesting group of players in the centre of midfield. Konrad Laimer, who is wanted by Bayern Munich, is a certainty in the line-up. Leipzig, however, are doing everything they can to keep him and so far it’s working. Apparently, he’s the only one who will have a place.

Xaver Schlagel, Kevin Kampl, Amadou Haidara or Ilaix Moriba can play alongside him. A lot will depend on the formation Leipzig will use for the specific matches. Dani Olmo will be a great offensive midfielder. He missed a good part of last season, which caused him to struggle with his form.

Attack

Coach Tedesco has fantastic options in attack. Quite surprisingly, he has managed to keep the main star of the team. Christopher Nkunku is one of the most productive players in Europe and was expected to leave for a bigger team. However, he has signed a new contract and will continue to fuel Leipzig’s offense.

André Silva will probably be the main man at the back, but Yussuf Poulsen will also get chances. Tedesco then likes to use Emil Forsberg as a striker, but he retreats deep into the midfield to help create play.

However, Forsberg will also play on the wing, where he will compete for space with the talented Dominik Szoboszlai or Olm, who will be used depending on the formation.

In addition, Alexander Sorloth and Ademola Lookman have returned to the team.

Ideal lineup

Gulácsi
Gvardiol – Orbán – Simakan
Klostermann – Laimer – Schlagel – Raum
Nkunku – Silva – Szoboszlai

Ranking tip:: 4th place

Source: RB Leipzig, Transfermarkt