"The team know about their responsibility!"
Achim Beierlorzer and Péter Gulácsi speak to the press ahead of the Champions League home game against Manchester City
On Tuesday night, RB Leipzig will host Manchester City to close out the group stage in the Champions League (18:45 CET). Although RBL have already been knocked out of the Champions League, they still have a chance to finish third and qualify for the Europa League.
Hear from Achim Beierlorzer and Péter Gulácsi ahead of tomorrow's showdown.
Achim Beierlorzer on...
...the atmosphere after the club parted ways with Jesse Marsch:
- "Everyone is disappointed not to have achieved the results we wanted together and that we didn't pick up enough points, so the mood is pensive.
However, that's just how it is in football, and we all know that we need to hit the reset button, focus on what's next and pick up the points that we've failed to get so far."
...upcoming changes:
- "The team know about their responsibility and know that they need to deliver. Marco Kurth and I are trying to get them on board so that everyone is full of confidence and able to play to the best of their abilities. We'll use every training session to do so."
...his role as interim coach:
- "There's no ego at play here. I'm the interim coach now, and will work together with Marco to be as successful as possible in our next four games.
I came here because I returned to RB Leipzig, one of the top clubs in the Bundesliga. We all wanted to continue the success story that's developed here and play great football. We managed to do it in some games, but we lacked consistency. We need to deliver every day - that's what's important, and the team are aware of that as well."
The team know about their responsibility and know that they need to deliver!
... tactical challenges against Manchester City:
- We've analysed Manchester City intensively and know what kind of quality to expect tomorrow and what we can do to combat it. The most important thing at the moment is that we keep compact and avoid giving them one of those wild games - they sometimes happen because we aren't able to keep our structure and some teams are able to just play right through us easily. We need to keep the spaces small and that all starts when we play forward quickly and close the gaps just as fast.
That's what our discussions with the team have told us. The squad really wants to put this closeness and compactness to good use. Everybody knows that City can play incredible football in those tight spaces too, though, so it's even more important not to give them space."
Péter Gulácsi on...
... the mood in camp:
- "We were told about Jesse leaving before training yesterday and were all a bit disappointed, because it's down to us as a team that we didn't get the right results. It's a situation we're both together in. Now we need to show a reaction as a squad and as individual players, and get the results we need from our four remaining games before Christmas."
Going forward we have a lot of quality - we showed that in the first game.
... last time out against Manchester City:
- "The first game against them was one of those 'wild games'. We didn't play badly, but we conceded goals at important times. City have a huge amount of quality and use any space they have really well.
Tomorrow we need to be more compact and defend better. We need to be at our best defensively. Going forward we have a lot of quality - we showed that in the first game. If we do all that, we'll qualify for the Europa League."
Current squad news:
- Achim Beierlorzer left quarantine on Monday following negative tests and discussions with the local health department. He will lead the team against Manchester City.
- Ilaix Moriba will be available for the UEFA Champions League game following back issues.
- Amadou Haidara's (ankle) appearance against Manchester City is not yet decided.
- Tyler Adams is available for selection on Tuesday after serving his yellow card suspension against Club Brugge last time out.
- Goalkeeping coach Frederik Gößling, Willi Orban and Hugo Novoa remain in quarantine.
- Long-term absentees Yussuf Poulsen (calf), Marcel Halstenberg (knee meniscus), Marcelo Saracchi (knee ligaments) und Dani Olmo (thigh) are still on the road to recovery and will miss the game.