By Brad Jones (@bradjonessport)
Since promotion from the second tier in 2016, RB Leipzig, like the rest of German football, have been living in the shadows of Bayern Munich’s dominance. But despite six consecutive Bundesliga titles, there’s no disputing that The Bavarians’ throne has been crumbling for some time, and after an impressive start to the season, The Red Bulls look well-prepared to charge headlong and knock Niko Kovac’s men from their perch.
Yet another tactically astute, progressively smart transfer window for Leipzig was met with a summer accomplished on paper but reckless in nature for Bayern. Given the departures of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery this was somewhat understandable: how can you really replace 22 combined years of consistent world class talent in an instant? Nevertheless, this may serve less as a negative for Bayern, who have replaced well, but more as a short-term positive for the clubs looking to capitalise on their period of transition.
Leipzig have won four and drawn once in their opening five matches of the Bundesliga campaign, but their league form isn’t the only reason for Julian Nagelsmann to feel optimistic. They have conceded just four goals and scored 15 in six Bundesliga and Champions League games from which talisman Timo Werner has netted seven times. And whilst the 23-year-old is undoubtedly their main man, perhaps the most important take from the opening stages of the season is that it hasn’t been all about him.
From five Bundesliga games, Marcel Sabitzer has already matched his tally of assists from last season (3) as well as notching two goals, with Emil Forsberg and Yussuf Poulsen having chipped in with a goal and two assists each with the rotation between 3-5-2 and 4-4-2 proving effective from both a defensive and offensive stand point. Even with a couple of injuries partnered with a relatively busy schedule, Leipzig have remained unfazed thus far.
Another of their standouts from last season, centre-back Dayot Upamecano has been sidelined until tonight’s game against Werder Bremen, and even in his absence, Leipzig have continued to show the phenomenal stability and versatility at the back that has been such a big factor in their success since Nagelsmann’s appointment.
The 32-year-old manager has an outstanding style of coaching which allows his side to counteract their opponents’ way of playing irrespective of the formation and players he opts to utilise.
Throughout 90 minutes, almost all of their starting XI will occupy more than one position at some stage. With their situational nature, they like to patiently play out from the back until a space between the lines emerges further forward. This means that, at times, Werner will move out wide, or Poulsen will drop into the number 10 role, or vice versa with their midfielders edging forward. It is a system that is flexible, requires tactical awareness from every player and when it works, as it so often does under Nagelsmann, is very hard to deal with.
As so many successful teams are set up nowadays, it is their full-backs that are relied upon the most for the system to work, perhaps more so at Leipzig than anywhere else. When playing a back three, they will be given the typical role of the wing back, with an impetus on attacking options whilst creating a back five out of possession.
When they play a back four, their full-backs will be positionally aware of the flanks when bombing forward, but in defence, they are required to tuck into a back three when a centre back becomes the aggressor for an oncoming attacker. Yet another incredibly useful method used by Nagelsmann to nullify the possibility of out-of-position full-backs which has been another essential part of their success this season.
You may think that this intricate system is catered for specific play styles that Leipzig’s first team facilitates, but as previously mentioned, Leipzig have coped faultlessly without a couple of key assets in recent weeks and that is testament to their recruitment of late. Their new, improved level of depth all over the pitch will prove vital when the games come thick and fast, given they reach the latter stages of the Champions League.
Christopher Nkunku, Ademola Lookman and Ethan Ampadu are all players that can slot into a number of positions and will suit the system Leipzig play. If they want to maintain the breath-taking form they have carried on from last season for a sustained period, these three amongst others on the brink of the first team will have a big part to play.
There is no doubt that Nagelsmann, along with a number of the top class talents he has at his disposal at Leipzig, have a long, exciting future ahead of them at the summit of world football. As for the present, can he mastermind this industrious young squad to an unlikely Bundesliga title? It’s still too early to get carried away, but there’s no disputing that they will certainly be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
By Brad Jones (@bradjonessport)
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