RB Leipzig boast the best defensive record in the Bundesliga this season, conceding just two goals from the opening six games, two fewer than Union Berlin and five less than Bayern Munich and Freiburg, but what makes their defence so good?
Speaking via the Bundesliga’s official channels, Rose was asked for his reasoning behind club’s exceptional defence. “Starting right at the back, I think we’ve got a goalkeeper who’s in great form. He saved a penalty where we ended up keeping a clean sheet,” said the RB Leipzig head coach.
“We’ve earned that with a bit of luck, but I also think it’s a lot of ability and hard work. We’ve got Willi Orbán back there who’s a pillar at the back. And the guys around him are just doing a good job as well.
“But it starts further forward. When we can cut out a lot of attacks early on with aggressive and high pressing, that then relieves the guys at the back a bit. It feels like it’s a good team performance to defend well and with hard work.”
But there’s always room for improvement.
“We still have room for improvement in one-versus-one defensive situations, at all levels, in all positions,” added Rose.
“But we’re doing very well in terms of team tactics. And at the moment, we’ve got a goalkeeper in great form who’s saved us in a lot of situations in many games this year. But we also need to say we don’t allow too many chances on the whole. That means that the team in front of him has done a very decent job so far.”
RB Leipzig remain one of two unbeaten teams in the Bundesliga and are level at the top with Bayern Munich. Opening their campaign with a win against Bochum, the Saxony club then ended Bayer Leverkusen’s domestic 43 game unbeaten run with a 3-2 win at the BayArena, the only goals that Willi Orban and Co. have conceded in the league.
Successive draws against Union Berlin and St. Pauli followed but wins against Augsburg and Heidenheim brought Leipzig level with Bayern Munich heading into the international break.
With a trip to Mainz on Saturday, RB Leipzig face a team that has scored six in their last three games.
