Marco Rose urges constant vigilance as key factor determines the outcome of the match

The 26th round of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season will see another battle, with RB Leipzig set to face Borussia Dortmund at the Red Bull Arena. Marco Rose said that key performances will influence the course of the game, so he called on the team to always be vigilant and strong in the game.

After a 0-0 draw with Freiburg in the last round of the league, Leipzig currently ranks 6th in the standings with 39 points, with 1 win, 3 draws and 1 loss in the last 5 rounds.

As for Dortmund, Niko Kovac's team is currently ranked 10th with 35 points. However, in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, Dortmund defeated Lille 2-1 away from home with Emre Can and Maximilian Bayer scoring, and successfully advanced to the quarterfinals.

Talking about the upcoming match against Dortmund, Leipzig coach Marco Rose said, "They performed very well against Lille, especially in the second half, and they won with a high-intensity style of play. Although there are some adjustments in the details, Dortmund's characteristics are very clear. They are a team with great offensive power, but sometimes they are not solid enough on the defensive end, so we have the ability to cause them trouble."

“We have the support of our fans and have had a good training week, and the training camp in Salzburg has helped us get ready for the final stage of the season. Our goal is clear, which is to win games and grab more points.”

Marco Rose also stressed that "energy, momentum, confrontation and fighting for the ball may often be underestimated, but it is often these key factors that determine the course of the game. We need to perform well in these aspects and stay vigilant at all times."

In addition, when talking about the 20-year-old defender Bishiab, Marco Rose said, "Bishiab has made some small mistakes in his growth, but his progress is huge. In the past 6 months, he has made amazing progress. He is one of the central defenders with the best left foot technology in Europe. He can accurately pass the ball from 30 to 40 yards into a small space."

"His defensive and heading abilities have improved, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. As a coach, my responsibility is to give young players with such potential more playing opportunities when they are in good shape."

Regarding the team's lineup, Marco Rose said, "Schlager's recovery is good. He has completed full training before, and his return is going as planned. He can play a few minutes, but we still have to follow the advice of the team doctor. The medical team believes that only half a week of training may not be enough for him to fully recover."