Troubles for RB Leipzig's Star Striker Werner, but Trusty Sidekick Poulsen Steps Up
Timo Werner, Leipzig's leading striker, is having a rough ride so far this season. With just two goals to his credit and a couple of setbacks due to back issues and an infection, Werner's bid to impress Germany's national coach, Julian Nagelsmann, for the upcoming Euros has taken a hit.
Yet, Werner's trusty co-striker, Yussuf Poulsen, has been an unwavering source of support. Poulsen and Werner have a history of working well together during Werner's initial stint at RB Leipzig (2016-2020). During a casual chat, Poulsen acknowledged Werner's struggles and offered words of encouragement.
Poulsen, a seasoned campaigner with his own set of battles, including muscle injuries, is now back in form. His recent performances against Wolfsburg and Heidenheim earned him a spot in the team and even the captain's armband in one match.
In a breezy interview during training, Poulsen also discussed other subjects like the team's match against Dortmund, the budding partnership with Lois Openda, the lack of scoring chances, and his feelings towards facing Denmark in the Euros.
The Interview
- Saturday's opposition Dortmund: "Every match counts. We're excited for the game, staying focused, and confident we'll have a good chance of success there. We've got a good opportunity to score.”
- Striker partner, Lois Openda (23): "It's been going quite well. We're two different types on the field with our footballing qualities, but we work together neatly. We're improving game by game. He prefers to go deep, and I try to create space for him to accelerate. If he scores a hat-trick against Dortmund, I'd rather that than a 5-1 win against Heidenheim. 2-1 is more than sufficient, that will bring us three points." He chuckled, "I used to be as swift as he is - but alas, not anymore.”
- the scarcity of chances: "We're missing too many goals or failing to deliver the final pass with precision at the moment. There are phases like that - but it's still important to win games. Eventually, things will shift, and we'll find our groove and that little bit of luck we need."
- the Euro duel with Denmark against fellow striker Benjamin Sesko (20/Slovenia): "We squared off against them in the qualifiers, won at home, and drew away. I'd rather have Slovenia in our Euro group than the reverse. Denmark starts their Euro campaign against Slovenia (16.6./Stuttgart)."
As RB Leipzig prepares to battle Dortmund, Poulsen and the gang aim to pocket valuable points and power on in the Bundesliga.
Additional Insights:
- Despite missing the St. Pauli win due to a minor thigh injury, Poulsen is expected to resume training with the team on Thursday. Poulsen has been a loyal contributor to RB Leipzig, participating in all seven of their Champions League campaigns and scoring twice in 41 outings.[1][3]
The absence of Poulsen, alongside other injured players like Benjamin Henrichs, Assan Ouedraogo, Xaver Schlager, and Antonio Nusa, has weakened Leipzig's depth and defensive resilience. However, the team's attacking flair, led by players like Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons, remains a positive factor.[1][4]
Despite the team's struggles in leagues and injuries, the team is working together to find a way to win. The strikers like Poulsen and Werner are encouraging their teammates and offering words of support.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Sources:
Enrichment Insights:
The sources do not directly mention how Poulsen's support has affected Werner's performance during the challenging start. However, the general vibe and team dynamics which are communicated in the articles seemingly signify that the team is working together and offering support to each other, which would indirectly help in improving a player's morale and performance.
- RB Leipzig's Struggles: An article from RB-Fans.de reveals that Leipzig endured six consecutive losses in the Champions League, which suggests a challenging time for the team.[1]
- Poulsen's Impact: Poulsen played a significant role in RB Leipzig's victory over Sporting Lissabon, scoring a crucial goal in that match. This highlights the importance of Poulsen's contributions in crucial moments and his impact on the team's morale.[1]
- Team Dynamics: The article from RB-Fans.de discusses the team's general performance, noting that despite the insignificance of the match against Sporting Lissabon, Leipzig still managed to secure a win. This suggests that the team is working well together to achieve results, even if they're not at their best level.[1]
- Young Players Involvement: The article mentions that coach Marco Rose has been giving chances to young players like Bitshiabu and Vandevoordt, indicating an effort to include more players and potentially boost team morale and performance.[1]
However, there's no definitive information on how Poulsen's support directly influenced Werner's performance during the challenging start. The underlying message is that positive team dynamics and individual players supporting each other can impact overall performance, although specifics on this aspect are unavailable in the sources.
