"Home games are always special!"
RB Leipzig host 1. FC Köln on Saturday in their first home league game of the season | Domenico Tedesco speaks to the media
First Bundesliga home game of the season! RB Leipzig will host 1. FC Köln on Saturday at 15:30 CEST.
Head coach Domenico Tedesco spoke to the media ahead of the game and discussed current team news, the upcoming opposition and his first impressions of Timo Werner.
Domenico Tedesco on...
… Current team news:
"Everyone is aware of Konni Laimer’s ankle problems. We’re looking at that day to day. So far, he’s not been able to train. He might be able to return tomorrow; we’re really confident. And after that we’ll be able to make a decision on whether he’s involved in the matchday squad or not.
Klosti got injured towards the end of the game against Stuttgart. That’s a big impact for us because he’s going to be unavailable for a while. Yussi Poulsen is also unavailable."
…. First impressions of Timo Werner:
"My first impressions are very good and positive. We were able to chat about one or two things, of course including football. I'm really pleased that he's with us. He’s a great person and a brilliant footballer who will help us a lot. He is an option for Saturday's game. I’m pleased that we’ve got guys like Timo in our squad."
… Pressure on Timo Werner, the head coach and the rest of the team:
"The greatest pressure is always the pressure that you put on yourself. We want to play every game as best as we can, like the one in Stuttgart, but we want the win in the end. But the enjoyment and anticipation of having a squad like we do and being able to play week in week out outweighs any pressure. We’re looking forward to having the midweek games because we can really get the squad firing. That’s even more fun for the players.
Timo doesn’t need to feel any kind of pressure. We know about the kind of media talk that surrounds someone like Timo when he’s returning to the club. He’s been in Leipzig before and did well then but we’re not asking much more of him. He’s not here to carry us. He needs to have fun in what he’s doing and demonstrate his qualities. The rest will come bit by bit."
… Excitement ahead of the first home league game:
"We’re all really excited for the game, just like we were for the Stuttgart one. I think you could tell because the players we’re all well up for it from the start. Of course, home games are always special when you’re finally getting started in the league. We’re all really looking forward to it!"
... Efficiency going forward:
"We’ve watched the Stuttgart game in detail and discussed the different plays with the team. I think that we can be a lot calmer in a lot of situations rather than deciding quickly whether to shoot, pass, cross or dribble. We’re working on being more relaxed in the final third, even if we have the impression that there’s no time or that the defenders are too close. There were a lot of situations like that in the game against Stuttgart. The first thing we want is to have good quality chances and shots, and the reset will come. The game against Stuttgart was the first matchday and we were perhaps a bit too hectic in one or two situations."
… Internal competition and line-up possibilities:
"We have several very good players in many positions and therefore a good level of competition. From each game to the next, it’s just about making a choice for the player who's selected, rather than against the one who's not. That's just the way the situation is and it’s exciting.
Joško got a few minutes in Stuttgart which was good for him mentally and physically. He’s made a bit more progress. We have a lot of options in defence when you look at the players we have for each position."
… Köln’s playing style:
"Even without Anthony Modeste, Köln will continue to cross a lot; they attempted a lot against Schalke. That makes the dangerous – they have big players like Florian Dietz in attack and a lot of players who can bring the ball down. We have to know how to prevent that."
… Köln head coach Steffen Baumgart:
"He’s done a brilliant job so far in Cologne. You have to take you hat off to him; on matchday 33 of last season, they we’re still in the race for the Champions League and I think that says everything about the season they had. They we’re involved right until the very end."