Marco Rose was born in Leipzig 47 years ago, a child of the city. His liaison with the RB football club, a dream marriage. No coach gave the still young club more identity, more face. That’s why the reports of the past few days have probably caused an uneasy feeling not only in fan circles.
From Italy, which is wonderfully over-the-top when it comes to football, rumors filtered through that the once great AC Milan was interested in signing Rose. The same thing was reported about the Spaniard Julen Lopetegui, but good. As it is with rumors, there is at least a little bit of truth in everything.
Rose did not want to comment specifically on possible interest from the Italians after the 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen, but he was quite open about his future. You have to know that his contract with RB ends after the coming season. Rose said: “I firmly assume that I will be Leipzig coach next year.”
Rose and the famous “But”
However, he then threw out one of those famous sentences that contain a “but” and which always cause maximum excitement in the industry. “But of course we have to talk about where we want to go and what happens next. Maybe one or two players are leaving now?” Rose asked more than he answered.
The sentence probably reached the ear of sports director Rouven Schröder and probably also the ear of the designated new sports director Marcel Schäfer, who is supposed to come from Wolfsburg. Your most prominent employee is demanding very specific answers to questions that are pressing for him, now that the season is almost over.
Leipzig will have to play another 90 compulsory minutes at Eintracht Frankfurt next Saturday, but it is certain that RB will end the season in fourth place. Qualification for the Champions League is therefore secured.
A remarkable achievement considering the conditions under which Rose and his team started the season. Last summer, a number of stars left the club, including Josko Gvardiol, Christopher Nkunku, Konrad Laimer and Dominik Szoboszlai. Although their transfers brought in over 200 million euros, they also resulted in the most massive squad shakeup in recent memory.
New players arrived, all highly talented, but with the uncertainty of a change. It is by no means a given that Benjamin Sesko, who canceled out Nicolas Seiwald’s own goal against Bremen, and Lois Openda or Xavi Simons adapted as quickly as they did. One round of the game later, they have become strong players themselves who, like their predecessors, arouse desire.
“We will do anything”
Almost everyone is associated with possible changes, which is why Rose demands answers from his superiors. He doesn’t want to have to moderate such a huge upheaval like last summer again. Of course, the coach knows that there are clubs, especially at international level, that are above RB in terms of salaries and reputation, but annual Sisyphean work is also a question of extent.
There could be security if the outstanding Xavi Simons stays, the Dutchman is only on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and according to his contract he would have to return to France. Rose announced in the last few days: “We will do everything we can to keep Xavi here.” That doesn’t seem impossible, qualifying for the Champions League is a basic requirement for Simons. Another would be the whereabouts of the coach.
