Ole Werner on opponents Stuttgart: "The best since Bayern"

The possible starting record is of relatively little interest to Ole Werner. For him, the next step in his development and a spirited performance from RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga top match this Saturday (3.30pm/Sky) against third-placed VfB Stuttgart are more important. "An opponent awaits who, in my eyes, is the best since Bayern. It's a game that could be decided in the small moments. Both teams are in a good rhythm and in a good flow," said the RB head coach.

Last three Bundesliga defeats against Stuttgart

After three Bundesliga defeats in a row against the Swabians, who also knocked Leipzig out of the DFB Cup in the semi-finals in the previous season, Werner is also aware of the importance of the clash within the team. "A real top match awaits us, there's no room for mistakes. We paid a lot of attention on the training pitch. The players know what's at stake," said Werner, who doesn't want to draw any comparisons with previous games: "Too much has changed for us."

Starting record possible for Werner

A win for RB would also mean a starting record for coach Werner. So far, he has recorded six wins and one draw from the first eight Bundesliga games after the 6-0 defeat in Munich. A home win against VfB on Saturday would take his tally to 22 points. RB's best start to a season so far came in the 2016/17 Bundesliga premiere season under Ralph Hasenhüttl, when they had 21 points after nine games.

Regardless of the outcome of the Stuttgart game, Werner believes RB are on the right track. "We're in good form right now and after this upheaval in the summer, we're finding ourselves more and more as a team every week. That has been reflected in our results so far. Even in the close games - we stuck together as a team in crucial phases and sometimes forced that little bit of luck," emphasized the 37-year-old.