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Leipzig boss Haenni: "Champions League essential for us"

Leipzig boss Haenni: "Champions League essential for us"
Tatjani Haenni (M) has big plans for RB Leipzig. (Archive picture) / Photo: Florian Wiegand/dpa
From: Sachsen News
Tatjana Haenni wants to increase Leipzig's income, is banking on its own talent and on Jürgen Klopp staying. Why the premier class is her top priority.

Tatjana Haenni has set herself three clear goals for her first three years in office as managing director of Bundesliga club RB Leipzig. The club is to become more deeply rooted locally and the club's own talents are to finally make it into the Bundesliga team. "We need to improve our revenue situation. We haven't booked out all the VIP areas yet, there's room for improvement in ticketing, merchandising and sponsorship," the 59-year-old told Sport-Bild.

To finance the club, there is no alternative to qualifying for the top flight if you don't want to sell the best players every year. "From a financial point of view, the Champions League is essential for us. If we don't fulfill that, we have a different starting position when it comes to squad planning," said the Swiss, who has been at Leipzig since 1 January.

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Hoeneß bet on sparkling wine

Within three years, Leipzig could also become champions. She would make this bet - as Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz once did - with Bayern patron Uli Hoeneß. The stakes would be "a Franciacorta, an Italian sparkling wine. But I don't like betting, I prefer to convince with deeds."

Somewhat bizarrely, she met Jürgen Klopp, the global head of soccer at Red Bull: "After it was clear that I was going to Leipzig, I got a message along the lines of: 'Hello, Jürgen Klopp here. I'm delighted. Shall we have a chat? I first had to find out if that was really him."

A video call followed later, "when I was out and about in the middle of Zurich and stood on a street corner. I thought it was very impressive that he called of his own accord." She also believes that Klopp will remain in the RB cosmos, following recent rumors of his departure in the summer. "I have 0 indicators that he will leave us. I hope that we can continue to call on him as a consultant and expert."

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