Freiburg submits, Cologne comes closer
The fight for the coveted tickets for the premier class continues to escalate in the final spurt of the season. SC Freiburg presented on Saturday and relegated RB to fifth place for at least two nights. 1. FC Köln is also involved after the 4-1 win against Augsburg and sits RB with two points in the neck.
But there is no reason for Tedesco to get nervous. “I don’t feel any pressure,” said the German-Italian at the press conference on Sunday. “If you’re where we are three days before the end of the game, you obviously want the maximum. We’re hungry and just want to.”
Leverkusen also in action on Monday
The fact that the game falls on a Monday is “not cool for us, but we can’t change it,” said Tedesco, referring to the unusual kick-off time. Since RB is still represented in the Europa League, the game was scheduled for May 2nd due to the corresponding regeneration time after international games. At the request of the security authorities, there will be no football matches in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 on May 1st.
In addition to RB, the direct competitor in the fight for the Champions League places, Bayer Leverkusen, also has to play against Europa League semi-finalist Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday. If there is support from Eintracht, RB beckons the return to third place.
Tedesco: “We will burn in Gladbach”
But Tedesco doesn’t want to rely on that. If Frankfurt saves its strength for international business, it is “everything legitimate”. Rather, they want to focus on their own strengths and win their ninth away win in a row across all competitions, which would also mean setting the club’s internal record. “We’re really looking forward to the game. We’ll be on fire in Gladbach to play a really good away game,” emphasized Tedesco, who is looking forward to a “good crowd”.
Gladbach “has nothing to lose”
For Borussia, on the other hand, this season is about nothing. Adi Hütter’s team can play freely and reconcile their fans after the Rheinderby they lost to Cologne in mid-April. “They have nothing to lose” and anyway there are “no easy tasks in the Bundesliga,” Tedesco made clear. “The team is strong anyway, the squad is great in every position. The last few weeks have shown that they are on track.”
Only Haidara is missing
Strength will not be spared for Thursday’s second leg in the Europa League against Glasgow Rangers. Or as Tedesco puts it: “Full of it. We don’t have any load control in that sense. We had four days to recover. We would do well not to think about Glasgow just yet. Full focus on Gladbach.”
We’d do well not to think about Glasgow just yet. Full focus on Gladbach. Domenico Tedesco | Coach RB Leipzig
So it fits into the picture that the coach can draw on the full. Only Amadou Haidara is out after his inner ligament injury. The midfielder is currently in training and could be back in the squad against Augsburg next weekend.
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