Defeat with Manchester City is “old history”, says Marco Rose (RB Leipzig)

By admin On Oct 3, 2023

RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose says last season’s 7-0 thrashing by Manchester City is “old history” as the two teams prepare to meet again in the Champions League in Germany on Wednesday.

City’s crushing victory in the first leg of the knockout stages, with five goals from Erling Haaland in 60 minutes, was one of the English side’s key wins en route to Champions League triumph for the first time last season. “There was no preparation for this game because it’s history,” Rose said Tuesday. “It was a game where everything came together and, of course, we were very unhappy with the size of the result. But we’re in a new season and we’re doing really well so far.”

Leipzig have won seven of their nine games in all competitions this season and come into the game after a home draw with reigning German champions Bayern Munich. Rose said his side could draw positive lessons from last season’s home game against City when Leipzig struggled to draw 1-1.

“We know we played very well at home and for that to happen again tomorrow we’re going to have to run a lot and suffer.” Rose answered “yes” when asked if City were the best team in the world. “But it doesn’t help us and it doesn’t help City,” he added. “This is football and we’re going to play 11-on-11. We know the quality of the City. We’re going to need a top performance and a bit of luck.”

City go into the game in a rare period of poor form, having lost two games in a row for the first time since January. The English champions are also without midfielders Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. However, Rose praised the depth of City’s squad, saying that “even when de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are out, we have (Mateo) Kovacic, and then Phil Foden, who has developed very well.”

Rose said he was looking forward to seeing Josko Gvardiol, who left Leipzig for City this summer, describing the Croatian center-back as “a great player and a great man”.

The Leipzig manager has confirmed that full-back Benjamin Henrichs will miss the game due to injury, while Spanish international striker Dani Olmo has also been ruled out as he continues his recovery. On the other hand, former Chelsea striker Timo Werner is expected to return from a back injury.

Defeat with Manchester City is “old history”, says Marco Rose (RB Leipzig)

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