With the home match against Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart concludes the first half of the season. Freelance journalist and Leipzig expert Ulli Kroemer explains the current state of today’s opponent.
With the Red Stripe: Hello Ulli, and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions again. Last season, Leipzig qualified for the Champions League by finishing fourth, but their push for the championship fell short. At the end of this first half of the season, they’re once again in fourth place, nine points behind Bayern. Do you think their prospects have improved compared to last season?
Ulli: Not at first, because Dani Olmo, the team’s mastermind, left the club and wasn’t adequately replaced. Antonio Nusa has immense potential, but he’s only 19, not an experienced international player and European champion who developed into a world-class player in Leipzig over four and a half years. Leipzig hasn’t just stagnated in terms of gameplay; the team has regressed and is overly reliant on the individual brilliance of Xavi Simons. When players like him are unavailable, the team lacks a solid tactical foundation. BUT: I just returned from Salzburg, where Jürgen Klopp was introduced as the new chief advisor of the Red Bull football empire. I believe that, in the medium term, Klopp could make a difference and provide crucial input for coaching, strategy, and squad planning.
Last year, Leipzig unexpectedly lost 5–2 in Stuttgart. This season has also seen surprising defeats, like 1–5 against Wolfsburg or 3–4 in Hoffenheim. Additionally, they are still pointless in the Champions League and have been eliminated. What do you think is causing this, and how secure is Marco Rose’s position?
In disastrous losses like those in Stuttgart and against Wolfsburg, the team completely collapsed during difficult phases. The root cause is the style of play. Rose’s football requires 100% intensity in every phase of the game. When the team can’t maintain that—due to numerous injuries or stretches of consecutive midweek fixtures—they lack the maturity and composure of a top team to handle games calmly. When intensity in duels, pressing, and counter-pressing is missing, so are ball recoveries and transition actions. In some phases, Leipzig has been quickly exposed because of this.
In the win against Bremen last weekend, Xavi Simons shone, having missed the last encounter due to injury. Meanwhile, Benjamin Sesko and Lois Openda have scored seven and six goals respectively, with Openda also providing nine assists. Which of the three should Stuttgart fear most on Wednesday night?
Xavi was suspended in last season’s match in Stuttgart. After Xavi’s injury layoff from October until the restart this year and the goal drought of the striking duo in November, the trio is now fully fit and extremely dangerous. Sesko, in particular, is in excellent form and brimming with confidence. Xavi, after his ankle injury, needs to regain consistency but has announced that he’s now a completely new, more determined player with a different mentality.
Where do you currently see Leipzig’s strengths and weaknesses?
With so many attacking players in the lineup, RB is vulnerable defensively when the opponent transitions quickly. If play is fast and direct—and Stuttgart can do this—Leipzig struggles to regain control as effectively as before. This is partly due to the holding midfield duo of Vermeeren/Kampl/Haidara/Seiwald, which, without the injured Schlager, doesn’t operate at top level and allows too many balls into dangerous areas. Another weakness is the lack of crosses; despite having a weapon like Sesko in the center, RB’s crossing stats are well below the league average. A key strength is their own transitions after winning the ball; when Xavi & Co. have possession and the team pushes forward, Rose’s high-energy football is in full flow. Additionally, goalkeeper Gulacsi is in great form.
Benjamin Henrichs suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury shortly before Christmas and will be out for the rest of the season. Against Bremen, Rose switched to a back four with Lukas Klostermann at right-back. How significant is Henrichs’ absence?
Henrichs wasn’t in form for the entire first half of the season, so the loss is manageable. RB has brought in good cover with Ridle Baku, and Geertruida, who is fit again after a cold, can play the position better than Klostermann. Henrichs, who has been overplayed, should recover fully and come back strong in 2025/26.
Finally, your prediction for the lineup and result?
Gulacsi – Geertruida, Klostermann, Orban, Raum – Vermeeren, Haidara – Nusa, Baumgartner (Xavi Simons) – Sesko, Openda
Note: this interview was translated from German via ChatGPT
Cover Image: © Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images