Leipzig can easily get in the mood for the highlight in the premier class against Werder. Julian Nagelsmann experiments a bit - and looks forward to a special encounter.
Leipzig (dpa) - For Julian Nagelsmann, the compulsory task was quickly solved.
Shortly after the fully deserved 3: 0 (2: 0) against the relegation candidate Werder Bremen, the trainer from RB Leipzig started thinking about the biggest game in the young club history of Saxony. "Of course we would like to go one more round," said the 32-year-old four days before the first knockout round in the Champions League at Tottenham Hotspur. The Saxons have the confidence to do so.
By winning against the hopelessly inferior Bremen, Leipzig took the lead from FC Bayern for 24 hours. "A nice side effect, nothing more," remarked Konrad Laimer. Already on Sunday, FC Bayern passed the 4: 1 win at 1. FC Köln and still has two points ahead of RB.
Nagelsmann was even able to use the game to test a "bit of something" in defense, because Dayot Upamecano will be absent in London on Wednesday (9:00 p.m. / DAZN). Nagelsmann, who has had to do without several injured top performers on the defensive for weeks, has not yet decided who will play where.
"I haven't looked at everything about Tottenham in detail yet," said the coach, who had left the premier-class group stage with his former club TSG Hoffenheim last season. Possibly the young Ethan Ampadu (19), who was allowed to play against Bremen for the last half hour, joins the team. Compared to the game on Saturday, Leipzig has to rethink anyway.
"Of course it is an opponent on Wednesday who is world class in many positions," said Nagelsmann and paid tribute to Spurs coach star José Mourinho for his "great experience at international level". "In such games, cleverness is very important, the way we get in this big, noisy stadium, how much of our power we get on the pitch."
Against Bremen, the highly praised RB offensive was always convincing when it picked up the pace. National players Lukas Klostermann (18th), Patrik Schick (39th) and Nordi Mukiele (46th) scored for Leipzig. "I was happy with the way," said Nagelsmann, who had seen the "same greed" as in Bayern's 0-0 win on matchday one. "If we get this joy and a healthy headlessness on the pitch," his team will also play a good game on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old is looking forward to his personal encounter with Mourinho, but with a wink of the eye the coach put on a little caution as a precaution. "I hope that we don't get in touch too often on the sideline because it can also be quick-tempered. Then we'll both sit in the stands and eat a bratwurst roll."
RB Leipzig
Werder Bremen
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