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E-mail Xinhua, November 25, 2024
Dark clouds have settled over RB Leipzig ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash against Inter Milan on Tuesday.
A run of four games without a win, including three away defeats, has sparked unrest for the 2022 and 2023 German Cup winners.
Kevin Mbabu (L) of Augsburg vies with Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Augsburg and RB Leipzig in Augsburg, Germany, Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)
Ambitions for a national title and international success appear to be in jeopardy in the club's seventh Champions League campaign. Consecutive defeats to Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool, and Celtic have added to the mounting pressure.
Recent losses to Dortmund and Hoffenheim, along with a goalless draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Bundesliga, have led coach Marco Rose to comment on a "crisis of results and performance."
"Things might get tight," Rose admitted, acknowledging, "I am responsible for the team not showing enough hunger and determination."
The 2020 Champions League semifinal appearance and two German Cup titles seem insufficient to meet the expectations of the club's leadership.
Just weeks ago, supervising CEO Oliver Mintzlaff emphasized the need "to seize opportunities when they arise. So far, we haven't."
Ahead of the clash with Inter Milan, managing director Marcel Schafer admitted, "The clock is ticking." Schafer called for swift solutions, while Rose recognized the urgency, saying, "We have to deliver."
With four defeats in the Champions League, Leipzig's international ambitions are fading fast. The club may need a miracle to advance to the next round in their remaining matches against Inter Milan, Aston Villa, Sporting, and Graz, as they remain one of five teams without a point after four rounds.
Rose said he expects a strong response from his team and stressed the importance of a collective effort to turn the tide.
Should the situation fail to improve, it might be up to Jurgen Klopp, who recently took up his role as global head of soccer for Red Bull, to recommend a new coach.
