Playing away holds no fear for Tedesco as he vows to go on the attack
DOMENICO TEDESCO, the RB Leipzig manager, has attributed his side’s impressive performances away from home in Europe this season to their offensive tactics and vowed to go on the attack against Rangers inside Ibrox tonight.
Leipzig have defeated Club Brugge of Belgium in the Champions League group stages and Real Sociedad of Spain and Atalanta of Italy in the Europa League knockout rounds when they have travelled abroad during the 2021/22 campaign.
They also competed well against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City in France and England respectively in Europe’s premier club competition last year despite the losses they suffered.
Tedesco’s side won the first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Rangers in the Red Bull Arena last Thursday night by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
But the Italian-German coach expects Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team to be less defensively-minded this evening.
The former Schalke 04 and Spartak Moscow manager is anticipating there will be more space for his forwards to exploit and is hoping they can build on their lead and go through to the final in Seville in a fortnight.
“I have to say our away games in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League have been really good this season,” he said.
“On the one hand, of course, you have to present a good performance, on the other hand, you have to show unity as a team. One wheel has to fit into the other. We showed that in Bergamo [against Atalanta]. Otherwise we would not have passed there either.
“In terms of dynamics and atmosphere, it will be similar here in Glasgow, if not even more intense. We are happy, it will be a hot duel.
“We have to attack. That’s what we expect to do here and we look forward to the opportunity to have a good game. When we are in a position to get into the box then things start to look good.
“We lead 1-0 overall. But I still think we’ll need goals. Rangers will put the pressure
on. Maybe not from the start, but eventually. That’s why goals are always a good thing.
“We basically did well in the first leg and Rangers were very deep. We’re hoping for more room tomorrow. If we have the room then we will be dangerous.
“We should enjoy being in such a stadium and to experience the atmosphere. But we also can’t forget that we are here to win.”
Leipzig have lost their last two Bundesliga matches – they were beaten 2-1 at home by Union Berlin last month and 3-1 away by Borussia Monchengladbach
on Monday – and have slipped to fifth in the table as a result.
Tedesco gathered his players around him on the pitch after the reverse they suffered this week, but he has played down suggestions in Germany that his team is suffering from a slump in form.
“I pull my boys into a team circle after every game,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a win, a draw or a loss. That doesn’t mean anything. I understand the media discussion. But we didn’t lose concentration, bad games just happen.
“You don’t need to talk us into a crisis now. Of course we were all very disappointed with the result against Borussia Monchengladbach. We hadn’t imagined it that way. We just want to win every game.
“But the topic is now closed. We’re about to have a really great game, a semi-final in the UEFA Europa League. There is nothing better and besides we have nothing to lose, only to win.
“Tomorrow when we go out we will be ready. We are on fire, it’s the semi-final, we want to give our best and enjoy the game.”
We have nothing to lose, only to win. We are on fire, we want to give our best and enjoy the game