“It’s a lot of fun working with the players”
Marco Rose speaks ahead of clash with Werder Bremen on matchday 15 | Squad updates ahead of the game
The final game of 2022! RB Leipzig are travelling to the wohninvest WESERSTADION for the final outing of the calendar year. The promoted Werder Bremen have impressed so far and have picked up 21 points from 14 matches. The Green-Whites have been particularly strong in the latter stages of games which is testament to their never-say-die attitude.
Head coach Marco Rose spoke to the media ahead of the match in Bremen (Saturday, 12th November, 15:30 CET) to discuss the upcoming opponents, the team moral and the progress of the players.
Marco Rose on ...
... SV Werder Bremen:
“Werder were only in the second division for a short period of time. They are a classy club and they belong in the top division. They have bounced back from their short blip really quickly and they have made a good start this season. They are very aggressive, they work man to man off the ball and they are also very dominant in possession. They are characterised by their good ideas on the pitch.
Their game is very much geared towards the two strikers Marvin Duksch and Niclas Füllkrug. Füllkrug is a typical centre-forward who holds it up in the attacking third and is a real leader on the pitch. He has been selected for the World Cup and I wish him all the best! I hope he doesn’t do it against us on Saturday but I’ll be a Füllkrug and Germany fan after that!”
We will need to be energetic in the WESERSTADION. Werder play excellent football and they have scored many goals in the final few minutes. Now it’s all about making a good impression in the final game of the year and we want to seize the opportunity to spend the winter break knowing we’ve picked up good results. There’s a lot to play for tomorrow and we want to win!”
... the morale in the team
“It’s a lot of fun working with the players! I have a fantastic team of analysts and athletics coaches behind me who take a huge weight off my shoulders. We have enjoyed evaluating our games together and working on the challenges that lie ahead. Intense periods are a lot easier when things click between people. The performances of the team contribute to the team spirit and the general state of mind. Regardless of all that it’s still a lot of fun here.
Even in the difficult moments I have had the feeling that the boys have dealt with the situations professionally and meticulously. We have had conversations about the fact that it’s not enough to just be a good footballer. It’s about operating as a team and leaving your ego at the door. It’s about questioning yourself and being able to deal with adversity. The boys have done that really well so far.”
Other News:
Marco Rose on ...
... Lukas Klostermann:
"Klosti ( Lukas Klostermann) is a total professional who has worked really hard to be where he is. Everyone who knows him knows that he is reliable, he has lots of energy and he is high-class defender. He is without a doubt the type of player that doesn’t need a lot of practice to show his quality. I’m delighted that he’s been selected for the World Cup.”
... Josko Gvardiol:
"Josko's (Josko Gvardiol) place at the World Cup shouldn’t be in doubt. Apart from his broken nose everything is fine. Now we have to see if he can play with a mask but he’s otherwise making a good impression. We will see how he copes with the workload and assess whether he’s in pain when he’s working intensively.”
... Xaver Schlager:
"Xaver Schlager is an important player for me and for the team. I’ve known him since he was a youth player and I have followed his path. His youth league success with Salzburg sticks in my mind. It was always clear back then that he’d play at a good level.
Xaver can be characterised by his clear head and his good decision making. He reads the spaces both in attack and in defence and he is a classy operator who has developed physically and has improved his duelling ability. You can see the professionalism with which he understands the game. These are all skills that make him a very valuable player. He’s also never satisfied and stays hungry. For him, it’s always about setting new goals and constantly developing.”
... Christopher Nkunku:
“Whoever watches him play can see what he is capable of. You can have a lot of faith in him this World Cup and I really hope he gets plenty of game time. Christo's (Christopher Nkunku) eye for goal is world class, he can score with both feet, with his head of from all positions. I hope he can show his class at the very top level at the World Cup.”
Squad update:
- Lukas Klostermann is available once again.
- Konrad Laimer has been able to fully participate in training for the first time since his injury.
- Josko Gvardiol is doubtful due to his broken nose.
- Mohamed Simakan is also in doubt due to his back problems.
- A decision on Abdou Diallo's (knee) availability will be made in the final session.
- The long term-injured Péter Gulácsi and Timo Werner will miss out.