“We are 100% focused on Hertha”
RB Leipzig head coach Jesse Marsch gives an interview ahead of the home game agaisnt Hertha BSC Berlin | Dani Olmo will miss out, but Josko Gvardiol returns
Home game! RB Leipzig welcome Hertha BSC Berlin to the Red Bull Arena on Saturday (15:30 CEST kick-off). Our head coach Jesse Marsch gave a press conference ahead of Bundesliga matchday 6 and spoke about the current squad news and answered other questions from the media.
Jesse Marsch on...
... Hertha BSC Berlin:
- “Hertha have won two matches in a row and will be confident ahead of the match at the Red Bull Arena. They have defended with intensity in recent games, they’ve been effective on the counter-attack, and they have also been very dangerous from set-pieces.”
... tactics for the game against Hertha:
- “We need to be creative in attack, and to do this, we want to be aggressive and active both on and off the ball. We mustn’t be too exposed when we lose the ball and deny Berlin space to hit us on the counter-attack.
Our opponents on Saturday have won two games on the bounce and believe they can beat us. It’s not just our tactics, but also our mentality which will be decisive.”
... playing three home games in a week:
- “Of course it’s a very important week for us, particularly because of the three home matches, but we’ll just take things step-by-step. We are 100% focused on Hertha, playing well and winning, that’s what’s most important for us, because we need results.
There’s no panic amongst the group, we’ve trained well this week and the game in Köln was a step in the right direction.”
It’s not just our tactics, but also our mentality which will be decisive against Hertha.
... the mood in the camp:
- “I’m really pleased with how everyone in the team is pulling together. The most important thing for me as head coach is that the team sticks together. I’ve been welcomed into this team and supported very well since I arrived, which has helped me a lot to be able to further concentrate on my work here with the team.
... the vacant sporting director role:
- “As a head coach, you always want to be on the same page as the sporting director. Both must agree on what is needed and how to move the team forward.
I’ve often had such a relationship with past sporting directors, it’s a great thing for a head coach.”
CURRENT SQUAD NEWS:
- Marcelo Saracchi is in recovery training following a cruciate ligament rupture in pre-season
- Germany international Marcus Halstenberg (ankle) should return to team training in November
- Dani Olmo suffered a slight muscle tear in his thigh during the game against 1.FC Köln and will miss out
- Josko Gvardiol returned to training during the week following muscular pains and is ready for Saturday's home game.