RB coach expects further development - Bakayoko questionable

The results at RB Leipzig are good, but coach Ole Werner still sees a lot of work to be done in terms of development. "We want to develop even more dominance and be even more dominant when we take the lead in order to decide the game. These are the next steps in our development in order to achieve our goals," said the 37-year-old ahead of the second-placed team's away match at FC Augsburg on Saturday (3.30pm/Sky). To achieve this, the defensive phases must also be kept shorter.

Werner expects an "intense game with many one-on-one duels" in the clash of the Bundesliga teams with the strongest duels at the moment, in which it is important to "stay on the ball and clean, which we did not manage to do in the second half against Hamburger SV."

Werner best new Leipzig coach after seven matchdays

However, it is precisely these phases without dominance that are important for the coach in order to stay on the ball and be able to resolve these situations better later on. "We have to create an awareness of wanting to get better and not just act with an eye on the scoreboard," said Werner, who himself has the best record of all new Leipzig coaches after the first seven league games with 16 points.

In addition, Leipzig have been unbeaten against the Fuggerstädter for 15 matches, with nine wins and six draws, longer than against any other Bundesliga club. But Werner warns against the team coached by Sandro Wagner, who are 13th in the table and have found their feet with two wins, a draw and four defeats in a row and "defend very aggressively and forward a lot. Wagner puts a team with a clear signature on the pitch, so we can expect an unpleasant game."

With Schlager and Bakayoko out of action

Whether Johan Bakayoko, who suffered a blow to his calf in training, will be able to play will be decided in the final training session. Werner also has some leeway with Xaver Schlager as to whether the Austrian international will be in the starting eleven or will come on later. More important for the coach, however, is the team as a whole, which should stick to its patterns and find offensive solutions.