For a long time, Jesse Marsch talked to his team in a circle before sending them into the international break with praise. “We haven’t stopped! We’re going on!” There is still a lot to discuss at RB Leipzig, there is still a lot to do for the new coach. But for the time being, he himself played a major role in ensuring that the second season of the Bundesliga second last season’s roller coaster match continued on Saturday with a 3-0 (0-0) win against VfL Bochum.
1: 4 against Bayern Munich, 3: 6 at Manchester City, 6: 0 against Hertha BSC, 1: 2 against FC Bruges: Marsch has experienced pretty much everything at RB Leipzig in the past few weeks, just no constancy. And the victory against the promoted team was only possible thanks to a strong final offensive. A final offensive, however, for which an idea from Marsch was responsible: In the 69th minute, he replaced Dominik Szoboszlai and André Silva. Just over 30 seconds later, Szoboszlai hit a corner kick in the middle. And Silva scored 1-0 with a header. For the striker, who came from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, it was the first goal for Leipzig out of the game. Christopher Nkunku increased with a brace (73./78.).
Despite the enormous fluctuations in performance, Marsch was again backed by Oliver Mintzlaff. “We are very, very dissatisfied with the yield and the lack of consistency,” said the CEO before the game. Nevertheless, he referred to the great upheaval in the team. Marsch get time “and we are still completely convinced that the path we took with Jesse is the right one,” said Mintzlaff.
However, the game against Bochum initially seemed to be evidence of Leipzig’s problems. After the seventh matchday, RB has ten points in connection with the European Cup, but continues to lag behind its ambitions. And on Saturday, the favorite missed numerous chances, the largest in the 29th minute: The last outstanding Nkunku ran free to Bochum’s goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, but instead of passing right to Yussuf Poulsen, who was also free, he shot himself and failed at the keeper. And when a few bad passes were added before the break, there were loud whistles from the Leipzig fans at halftime.
Marsch tried to exert an influence from the outside, urging his team to be more calm and serene with gestures. After an hour he switched from back three to back four. But it was only when Szoboszlai and Silva came on for Emil Forsberg and Poulsen that the turning point was brought about. “Szobo was angry that I didn’t come on as a substitute for the free kick,” said Marsch with a wink.
It was Szoboszlai who found the most honest words about the overall situation in Leipzig after the game: “Something is always missing”, on Saturday the many chances were exploited up to the 70th minute. But, he said, we are working on it.
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