Marco Rose, the coach of RB Leipzig, has recently felt a rare sense of relief as his name received faint cheers from the stands. „I am very happy about that,“ he stated after his team advanced to the semifinals of the DFB-Pokal. This progress has provided the under-fire coach with some breathing room, but the upcoming Bundesliga match against Mainz on Saturday will determine how lasting this relief is.
Striker Benjamin Sesko noted, „This certainly gives us a boost for Saturday. We have shown our quality, and I believe we can call upon that in every single game.“ Sesko’s contentious yet successful penalty kick helped Leipzig secure a 1-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg, marking the fifth semifinal appearance in the last seven years.
Champions League Qualification a Critical Challenge
While Leipzig maintains its only shot at a title, the focus remains on the Bundesliga. Securing qualification for the upcoming Champions League is crucial, as it underpins nearly all personnel and transfer planning. Consequently, the clash between sixth-placed Leipzig and fifth-placed Mainz is pivotal.
Rose, who has been with Leipzig since September 2022, is under contract until 2026. However, his future beyond this summer appears uncertain. Under his management, Leipzig has not developed into a serious challenger to Bayern Munich, as evidenced by their performance in the second half of the season, where they have managed only one win from six Bundesliga matches.
Hoeneß Emerges as a Strong Candidate for Succession
Despite extensive training periods following a disappointing exit from the Champions League and the return of injured players David Raum and Xavi Simons, Leipzig dropped points against relegation-threatened teams such as Union Berlin, Bochum, and Heidenheim. Internal discussions regarding Stuttgart’s coach Sebastian Hoeneß have surfaced, aligning with information from dpa.
According to the „Kicker,“ there is a „very hot lead“ connecting Hoeneß to RB, where he previously worked in the youth division from 2014 to 2017 and was highly regarded. Hoeneß can reportedly be signed for a fixed fee of up to eight million euros, thanks to a clause – but only by a club competing internationally. A decision on this matter is expected by the end of April.
Support for Rose from the Squad
The Leipzig squad, having previously saved Rose’s job with a DFB-Pokal victory against Frankfurt in December, fully supports their current coach. National player Raum expressed, „We play for our coach. This win was very important for him, for us, and for the atmosphere.“
Leipzig players were aware that luck played a role in the penalty decision. Raum even apologized to the Wolfsburg players on the pitch. „In the current climate, such hand penalties are being called. As a full-back, I know how tricky it is when trying to block a cross,“ the 26-year-old remarked.
The penalty was awarded after Sesko’s cross was blocked by Kilian Fischer, who was just half a meter away and attempted to pull his arm behind his back. Referee Tobias Reichel did not find this argument convincing: „He had a clear view of the ball. The distance was short; he also tried to position himself with two spread steps, and the ball was predictable.“