Football Season Guide

RB Leipzig will be aiming to get back amongst the league top four after a difficult 2017/2018 season saw them slip back in the race. Following a breakout first season in the league, it was always going to be tougher for Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side last term as sides began to adjust to their style of football. Add to that a complete capitulation at the end of last season and the announcement that Hasenhüttl would leave over the summer and it is clear to see that last season was the end of a chapter in the club’s history and not the start. The new man to take over for a season before Julian Nagelsmann takes charge is former coach and sporting director Ralf Rangnick. He is a well respected and successful coach in his own right before taking over as sporting director at Leipzig during Hasenhüttl’s reign. The transition for the squad should be very smooth. Considering the interest in some of the team’s bigger stars it is incredible that only Naby Keita has left from amongst the important members of the squad. Importantly Timo Werner and Emil Forsberg have both remained and will be crucial to the club’s campaign this year. It even appears that Rangnick taking over has allowed the club to calm some of the transfer intentions of the biggest players. Alongside Keita right back and central midfield utility man Bernardo has also moved on. But otherwise the squad has just been thinned out by Rangnick. The only fresh signings for this season are all either 19 or 20 as the club continues their policy of investing and developing younger players. That means the burden of performance will largely be on existing squad members. However, the squad depth looks strong enough overall to perform competitively in the league, cup and Europa League. In recent seasons Leipzig have played a very attacking 4-2-3-1 and that culture will continue this season. The aim this term will be to return back to the top four and with it a guaranteed Champions League group stage slot. It is becoming increasingly competitive for places 2-4 in the league but Rangnick’s side certainly have what it takes if they stick together and work for that goal.