RB coach Werner: Mintzlaff's premier class announcement positive

RB Leipzig coach Ole Werner sees Oliver Mintzlaff's public call for Champions League soccer as a success of his work so far. "After the upheaval with a very young team, for me this is an expression of the fact that we have done many things right so far this season," said Werner. "I can follow that and take it positively." Leipzig go into the 22nd matchday in fourth place and will host VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday (17:30/DAZN).

After the cup defeat at FC Bayern during the week, Mintzlaff, the head of the supervisory board, said that he wanted to get into the Champions League. With a performance like the 0:2 in Munich, this was also possible. Until then, the return to international business had been set as the goal for the season. "Of course, everyone would rather play Champions League than Europa League and Europa League than Conference League," said Werner.

Werner's farewell before kick-off

A highlight of the Wolfsburg game took place before kick-off. Around 20 minutes before kick-off, Timo Werner is officially bid farewell in the stadium. The club's record goalscorer is moving to San José in the USA, but is still training in Leipzig for personal reasons and is almost fully integrated into training at RB. San José will kick off the new MLS season against Kansas City on February 22.

Raum suspended

Werner is likely to watch the game against Wolfsburg from the stands again. Lower Saxony have lost three games in a row and are only just above relegation place 15 thanks to their superior goal difference. "I can already see a clear idea of how they want to play soccer," said Ole Werner. "Maybe that hasn't always translated into results yet."

In terms of personnel, Leipzig's coach has to make another change. Although there are no new injuries, captain David Raum is missing due to a yellow card suspension. Left-back Max Finkgräfe, who arrived from Cologne in the summer, will make his first start in the starting eleven. Xaver Schlager, who could make way for winter loanee Brajan Gruda, may also miss out.