When RB Leipzig appointed Domenico Tedesco in November, the membership was within the decrease half of the Bundesliga after seemingly misplaced its approach since Julian Nagelsmann’s exit. His arrival modified all the pieces. Leipzig is now within the high 4.
At 36, Tedesco is among the many most formidable coaches on the finish of the European sport. Born in Italy, raised in Germany, he’s a soccer freak recognized for his function as director of soccer whilst he led Schalke 04 to second place within the Bundesliga.
He completed first in his DFL exams – forward of present Bayern Munich coach Nagelsmann. “He was already a coach for Hoffenheim and did not have a lot time to study for exams, that is the reality,” Tedesco gives in aid.
Saturday April 2 5:20 PM
Departure 5:30 pm
He speaks to chose worldwide media, reflecting on his experiences at Schalke, Spartak Moscow and Leipzig. He’ll reveal how he celebrated Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory in Berlin and what he needed to change to cease his group’s slide underneath Jesse Marsh.
Particularly requested by sky Sports activities To elucidate his philosophy, his reply is very sensible for this new era of coaches. “My thought about soccer is that you must adapt to the standard of your gamers, the strengths that you’ve throughout the group,” he says.
“At Schalke, we had lots of bodily gamers, we performed lots of counter-attacks and bought second behind Bayern Munich due to lots of video games the place we defended very compactly, lots of counter-attacks, nook kicks, free kicks, objectives. After free kicks. And nook kicks.
“At Spartak Moscow, I had a very totally different group. We had the youngest group in Russia with actually good individuals who have been technically robust on the ball. We had 70 p.c of possession in each sport. I’ve to be versatile as a coach, I need to. me from adjusting.
“Right here, I’ve a very totally different group.”
Tedesco is eager to reward his predecessor and the chance he inherited. “I’ve discovered right here a robust group bodily but in addition from a psychological viewpoint – actually good guys, actually good group.” However Leipzig additionally misplaced essentially the most.
Gamers have been struggling to embrace a Marsh press sport with one of many key gamers, Angelino, bemoaning basketball fashion. Tedesco confirmed as much as uncover the group that, he stated, was wanting to personal soccer. He made the change.
“Once you come to a brand new membership, you must know the group, you must discuss lots with the massive gamers, strive to determine what the issue was previously. We modified the system, we tried to speak lots with the gamers, we needed to play just a little extra with possession.”
Leipzig remains to be urgent, which is the hallmark of the sport since they made it to the highest flight underneath Ralf Rangnick. However the purpose was to realize better management than earlier than.
“We needed to push just a little in a different way. Generally we would have liked to remain just a little calmer. Firstly of my work right here, I noticed that gamers are thirsty for strain actually excessive. It is the identical approach I like however generally it is higher to remain calm in some conditions.”
The development has been dramatic for the reason that brief winter break with Leipzig taking 23 factors from 10 video games. “We performed three matches in December after which had that brief time. I analyzed the matches and tried to determine what we have to enhance.”
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Slicing the noise was a should. Tedesco needed to management what he may management and attempt to stop gamers from being distracted by exterior chatter. “I do not learn newspapers,” he says. “A very powerful factor is to investigate the sport your self.”
He cites a latest 6-1 win over Greuther Furth. “Everyone seems to be celebrating however we conceded 4 counter-attacks.” Even the six objectives may have been improved. “Analyze it. Why? We may have scored eight objectives. Why did not we rating eight?”
continued. “Or you may lose a sport and everyone seems to be destroying you however you inform the group the reality as a result of you may inform them, ‘We had an enormous crowd, we didn’t concede an excessive amount of, we did very well in urgent.’ At all times work on the small print.”
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Highlights of the German League match between Bayern Munich and Leipzig
This analytical method is within the nature of Tedesco. He was 22 years previous when he started coaching on the Stuttgart Academy, a product of the German system however whose affect was Italian. He cites Marcello Lippi, Fabio Capello and Antonio Conte as inspiration.
These Italian roots stay essential. He has fond reminiscences of the 2006 World Cup. “You possibly can’t think about,” he says. “My German pals have been teasing me. In the long run, we gained in Berlin. It was an enormous satisfaction. For Italians residing in Germany, it was stunning.”
Andre Silva was in nice form at Leipzig underneath Domenico Tedesco
His multicultural background has an affect on his coaching. The conferences in Leipzig are in English as a result of that’s the language most of his gamers perceive. “I would like everybody [involved]. “However for Tedesco, there are lots of different choices, too.
“It can be crucial that we perceive them and have conferences in different languages. We’re a German membership so I would like everybody to talk German however it’s not that straightforward. Generally it’s helpful to talk French with the French or Italian with Andre Silva.”
Silva has scored three objectives in 14 video games underneath Marsh, however has seven of his 13 objectives underneath Tedesco. Christopher Nkunko already has 9 objectives however he refuses to confess. “He was already in nice form earlier than I arrived,” he says. “that is the reality.”
RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunko scores freely underneath Domenico Tedesco
Typically, this group has modified. Not solely is qualification for the Champions League seemingly – if the season had begun on the finish of the 12 months, Leipzig could be within the lead – however they nonetheless remained within the German Cup and the Europa League.
Immediately, there are expectations once more. Does this convey extra strain? “There’s completely no strain as a result of we all know the place the group is coming from,” he says. “In December, Leipzig have been, frankly, eleventh or twelfth, with many factors to fourth.
“Now it’s good that we’ve got lots of finals in April, if we need to name them finals, however that’s due to our work. The strain in soccer is at all times there. However there isn’t any particular strain as a result of it’s a reward that performs these video games. It can be crucial that the gamers see it as a present.”
For Leipzig, it’s the arrival of Domenico Tedesco that appears like a present.
