RB Leipzig kicked off their Champions League marketing campaign with a 2-1 defeat away to Atlético Madrid, as their inconsistent begin to the season continues to hang-out them.

Regardless of having ended Bayer Leverkusen’s exceptional unbeaten run on German soil earlier than the worldwide break. Die Roten Bullen had didn’t encourage in each of their residence fixtures in opposition to VfL Bochum and Union Berlin, leaving query marks surrounding the flexibility of Marco Rose’s facet.

Nevertheless, after an exhilarating first 5 minutes, Leipzig had appeared to silence a few of their critics after slicing by means of Atlético to take an early lead, however their arduous work could be undone with an Antoine Griezmann aim that in the end took the momentum away from the guests for the rest of the half.

After the interval, the rhythm of the sport would stay largely the identical, with Atlético wanting essentially the most threatening, however because the tie heading in the direction of a draw, the hosts would discover a winner by means of a towering José María Giménez header.

For Leipzig, they style defeat for the primary time this season, however this efficiency just isn’t in isolation, and cracks on the membership are starting to point out.

Is Marco Rose nonetheless the appropriate head coach for RB Leipzig?

When Rose took over at Leipzig in September 2022, there was nice expectation positioned upon the previous Borussia Dortmund head coach to show the fortunes of the membership round having drifted away from the membership’s DNA below Domenico Tedesco.

Immediately, the Leipzig native made his influence felt on the Crimson Bull Area, blitzing previous Borussia Dortmund in his first recreation answerable for the membership.

For the rest of the 2022/23 marketing campaign, no different facet picked up extra factors than Leipzig within the Bundesliga from the second Rose was appointed, leaving many to consider that had he been on the helm from the start of the season, then Die Roten Bullen would have been topped German champions.

However, final season, whereas Leipzig have been capable of boast victories in opposition to Dortmund and Stuttgart, in addition to pushing Bayer Leverkusen all the way in which, it was their performances in opposition to the Bundesliga’s bottom-half sides that drew criticism from these exterior of the membership.

Defeats to Wolfsburg and Mainz mixed with attracts to the likes of Bochum and Augsburg prevented the Saxons from pushing previous Bayern Munich and Stuttgart within the desk, and for a membership that must be competing for the Meisterschale on an annual foundation, these outcomes are merely not adequate.

In addition to this, Rose’s Champions League historical past is way from spectacular.

Regardless of having a victory in opposition to Actual Madrid below his belt, a 7-0 defeat to Manchester Metropolis and the failure to progress previous the spherical of 16 have seen Leipzig stall of their development as a membership.

Now being on this third season in cost, Rose has but to show Leipzig right into a facet of the calibre of competing for the Bundesliga or the Champions League, not to mention profitable both competitors, and this season, they don’t seem any completely different.

Whereas they did outplay Die Werkself, poor residence performances to Bochum and Union Berlin have emphasised that they’ve but to push themselves to the subsequent degree below Rose.

On high of this, in opposition to Atlético, whereas Die Roten Bullen began properly, after scoring, they collapsed, and their Achilles heel of failing to manage a recreation and construct momentum prevented them as soon as once more from taking three factors away from the Spanish capital.

For the expertise on provide to Rose, there isn’t any doubt that the membership must be acting at the next degree, particularly contemplating that Xabi Alonso turned Leverkusen from relegation contenders to undefeated champions in a smaller timeframe.

In nearly three years, Rose has been unable to type a facet able to acting at a world-class degree on a constant foundation, and so they seem to not be ascending of their growth.

Only a matter of weeks in the past, Leipzig seemed like favourites to win the Bundesliga, however having unimpressed in opposition to Union, they’ve now faltered of their first look in Europe this season.

After underwhelming as soon as once more within the Champions League, it might actually be advised that Rose doesn’t have that a lot time left to show Die Roten Bullen into the elite-level facet they need to be.

GGFN | Will Shopland