Analysis – Steffen Freund on RB Leipzig

From pitch to pundit in Germany, our former midfielder and coach Steffen Freund knows the Bundesliga inside out – so we asked him to run the rule over our Champions League round of 16 opponents, RB Leipzig.

Having only been founded 10 years ago in May, 2009, Leipzig are a fairly new outfit to both the German top flight and Europe’s elite club competition, but they have continued to progress each season. Now, they sit top of their domestic league and this season they have progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time ever after they secured top spot in Group G.

Steffen spent almost eight years plying his trade in the Bundesliga with spells at Schalke, Borussia Dortmund – where he won two league titles and the Champions League - and 1. FC Kaiserslautern, before becoming one of Germany’s most respected TV pundits. Thus, he has witnessed Die Roten Bullen's rise over recent seasons.

Following Monday’s Champions League round of 16 draw, which pitted us against the German outfit, we spoke to Steffen about what we can expect from RB Leipzig…

Steffen on… RB Leipzig

“RB Leipzig are top of the Bundesliga at the moment and if you look at the whole squad and how the players work with the coach Julian Nagelsmann, everything looks well and strong. First, they are first-time qualifiers for the last 16 of the Champions League, so they don’t have the experience of Tottenham Hotspur and Jose Mourinho. But, Nagelsmann has the fire as a young coach to do something special, and he’s already done that by reaching the last 16 and they have nothing to lose. Two years ago, they lost Naby Keita to Liverpool, their best player. This year they didn’t lose Timo Werner… in the end, Werner signed a new contract. He is their most dangerous player up front. They have signed Christopher Nkunku (from PSG), Patrik Schick (on loan from Roma) and Hannes Wolf from RB Salzburg, a really talented midfielder who was out after breaking his ankle in the UEFA Under-21 finals but he’s back already. They also have Ademola Lookman from Everton, he’s not playing regularly, but they have a huge squad now and are far stronger than last season. They can handle everything - Bundesliga, cup and Champions League. At the moment, they do it in a way I respect as a former player.”

Steffen on… Leipzig's tactics

“They are really flexible tactically with Nagelsmann. He can change from a back three to a back four if he has to; three strikers or two strikers if he has to. He will change something during a game if it’s not working. Tactically, they are really flexible, that’s the main thing you have to know. The most dangerous thing is, when they win the ball, RB Leipzig play vertical and they don’t care if they don’t have possession because they know when they win the ball they play quick to Werner, Emil Forsberg, Yussuf Poulsen, Schick - it doesn’t matter who plays because they have so much pace on the wings with Nkunku and lots of players who can make the difference. RB Leipzig is not a team like City and Pep Guardiola with possession and dominating games. They can, but they don’t have to, and I think that’s the danger. They can create something from nothing. Spurs will have to be focussed and keep their concentration and they have to look out for counter-attacking football. Werner on his own has scored six goals on the counter-attack already this season. So, Tottenham, if they dominate the game – and I think they will – they will have to be careful when RB Leipzig win the ball.”

Steffen’s one to watch

“Timo Werner is on fire. They kept him in the summer and he’s playing a different role now, not as a central striker but more as a winger, playing wide and coming inside. That’s when he’s unstoppable. He’s so quick and in the box, he’s a striker again, in the area where he scores goals. His movement is dangerous. You can’t touch him. He comes from outside to inside, suddenly he’s in the box and he’s an outstanding finisher. Overall, 16 goals already in the Bundesliga. Forsberg is also a key player in possession to play the passes in behind.”

We will play the first leg of the tie with RB Leipzig at home on Wednesday 19 February. The second leg will follow at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig on Tuesday 10 March.