RB Leipzig wants to return to the successful path of recent years with a major shake-up in the team, a streamlining of the squad and a reduction in salaries. "Signing young players and helping them reach their maximum potential. That is our way and our philosophy," said RB managing director Marcel Schäfer on Sport1's "Doppelpass", "we wanted to get back to the roots."
According to the 41-year-old, the search for young professionals is becoming increasingly difficult: "Five or six years ago, there were only a few clubs that were interested in young players. Now the battle is extremely tough." Leipzig, however, has the advantage of having built up a certain standing in recent years and is therefore interesting for young players. According to Schäfer, the transfer of Johan Bakayoko, whose goal secured the 1-0 away win at FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday, was subject to a large number of competitors.
Coach Werner with matching philosophy
By selling Benjamin Sesko, Xavi Simons and Louis Openda, who were brought in at a young age and became top performers, RB not only created space in the squad before the new season and generated high transfer revenue, but also installed Ole Werner, who Schäfer believes is the right coach for Leipzig's philosophy and has proven he can guide young players, after the disappointing previous season.
"Ole has always developed the players and the teams in Bremen and Kiel and both have overperformed. We agreed on many things in our talks," said Schäfer, "it's the next step for him too. So far, he has always flown under the radar."
Werner and Wagner's mission: to bring players up from the academy
One of Werner's tasks will also be to integrate a player from the club's own youth academy into the professional squad. So far, no one from the academy has made it. With the new academy manager David Wagner, the aim is now to ensure "that a player will regularly appear in the stadium over the next few years", said Schäfer, "that must be our path."
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