RB Leipzig's captain, Willi Orban considers Dortmund to be the best team in the Bundesliga right now. http://www.90min.de/posts/5660997-k...-kracher-in-dortmund-bvb-bestes-team-der-liga
Interview with Wolfsburg's new coach, Martin Schmidt: http://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/vfl-wolfsburg-das-grosse-interview-mit-trainer-martin-schmidt/
Stefan Kiessling is looking into a career after being a football player, and is working towards the option of coaching and management. http://www.sportbuzzer.de/artikel/s...sliga-profi-plant-karriere-nach-der-karriere/
RED BULLS! Leipzig snap Dortmund's 41-game unbeaten streak at home in the Bundesliga and hand them their 1st loss of the season. pic.twitter.com/KQygCw1xqw— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 14, 2017
Is GianLuca Itter injured? I do not see him even on the bench today against Leverkusen... Also Henrichs again on the bench...
Itter had a thigh problem during the international break. He returned to training but appears to be not match ready yet. https://www.ligainsider.de/gian-luca-itter_12687/trainiert-im-kreise-der-mannschaft-227626/
Oliver Mintzlaff is convinced that Ralf Rangnick will remain as sporting director of RB Leipzig beyond 2019. https://www.liga-report.de/bundesliga/rb-leipzig/mintzlaff-rangnick-wird-ueber-2019-hinaus-bleiben/
LOL, Bundesliga leaders Dortmund draw a Cyprus club. Yeah Dortmund seems unlikely for a R16 appearance. EL seems to be it assuming they don't embarrass themselves and let APOEL end up 3rd. while RB's win and Monaco's loss means they move from 4th place to 2nd place, with 4 pts after 3 games.
Ideally Leipzig should have conceded less goals, but it's encouraging to see them win against Porto. Especially as a young and inexperienced side. Meanwhile, I already knew Dortmund will be playing Europa ball but they need to get their shit together.
I don't find Peter Bosz fits Dortmund. His hiring felt the same as Ancelotti to Bayern for me. Coaches that don't really fit or that aren't good enough.
LOL, the EL performance continues HT Koln 0-0 BATE Hertha 0-1 Zorya (Ukraine) well hopefully 2nd half is better...
FT Koln 0-1 BATE Hertha 1-2 Zorya (Ukraine) and with that this week in Europe (Matchday 3) better than last time but still not great 2 losses, 1 draw, and 2 wins with Dortmund heading towards EL while both Koln and Hertha seem headed out.
lol German teams in Europe this season:🇼 - 3️⃣🇩 - 3️⃣🇱 - 1️⃣3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/hoHu2pB2yP— DW Sports (@dw_sports) October 19, 2017
even if Bayern and Dortmund somehow do win the CL and EL. It does show that in Europe it seems to be Bayern and Dortmund and that's it from Germany. the rest including Dortmund can't seem to compete vs Bulgaria, Belarus, Sweden, Cyprus. German clubs has more money and better league than those teams yet are flopping hard vs them.
Leipzig did at least beat Porto to climb to second in their group. If they can draw in Portugal they have a shot at the round of 16. Bayern with Jupp can compete with most teams as can Dortmund without injuries, but even with injuries they have a strong enough squad to win the EL. The rest are weak and will be eliminated early unfortunately.
add a 4th win to that list. but Hoff are still 3 pts behind 2nd place and 4 pts behind 1st. Still possible, seems more possible than Hertha or Koln making it out.
4 - 4 points after three matchdays is the worst record ever for German teams in the @EuropaLeague. Disaster. #UEL— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) October 19, 2017
Uefa have opened disciplinary proceedings against Roma over racist monkey chants directed towards Rudiger. #CFC pic.twitter.com/B4lS3D0XrP— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) October 20, 2017
Pretty good article The Tale of Stubborn Peter Bosz and the Victims of their Own Success https://t.co/cMglIHhOzZ pic.twitter.com/NxaWLY7lc6— Yellowwallpod (@Yellowwallpod) October 19, 2017
With their win against Mainz today, Schalke move up in the table and at this moment are leveled with RB Leipzig for 4th place in the BL. Although of course RBL and other teams close to them like Hoffenheim, Gladbach, and Frankfurt still have their matches to play this week. Looks like Tedesco has done well so far in stabilizing the team, and getting them back among the top clubs in the league. Although not high scoring in their results, they have been compact and look well organized defensively.
I think biggest question mark for Schalke if they make any Europe play would be. what to do with the highly likely absence of Goretzka and Meyer as both players seem all but done after this season. Although to a lesser degree Meyer as he seems to be struggling in terms of play and form and could use a change of location. but Goretzka has been huge over the last 2 seasons for them. Even in EL, he saved the day vs Gladbach in the R16, having a goal and assist as they beat them on away goals. And vs Ajax scoring a goal and once he got injured and was taken out of the game that is when things fell apart for Schalke and they lost the midfield and conceded 2 goals and were out.
Fwiw, looks like they've reintegrated Meyer back into the starting XI in their last 2 matches. Although he plays deeper in the midfield now, as sort of a CM/DM instead of his former position as a ten. Maybe Tedesco sees him filling the Modric or Verrati role for them. The general reviews I've read have said he did reasonably well. But overall, yes Schalke's biggest concern would be what happens if they're not able to hold onto their Goretzka and Meyer. They've already suffered considerable losses of player depth in recent years.
also even worse when you consider that Schalke and those 2 players dragging signing extension of their contracts could risk Schalke losing both Meyer and Goretka for free. Both are free agents this summer, if neither sign or aren't sold this Winter, you get nothing out of them. Could you imagine any club losing a player like Goretzka or one with potential like Meyer for free? Try finding other players to take their place when you make 0$ off of them.