LEIPZIG BOSS NAMES THREE RANGERS PLAYERS HE’S SCARED OF; ‘REALLY STICKS OUT’.
RB Leipzig boss Domenico Tedesco admits he’s wary of Rangers trio Ryan Kent, Fashion Sakala and Joe Aribo ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final, speaking to Rangers Review.
No team in the Bundesliga has picked up more points in the last ten games than Leipzig (23 out of a possible 30). And, yes, that includes champions Bayern Munich.
Former Schalke boss Tedesco has brilliantly resuscitated a team asphyxiated by Jesse Marsch’s ill-fitting tactics. And in Christopher Nkunku – 30 goals, 20 assists – he has arguably Europe’s most in-form attacking midfielder at his disposal too.
But underestimate Rangers at your peril.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will be the underdogs in Thursday night but this is a side who have made a habit of defying expectations in Europe, as Leipzig’s Bundesliga rivals found out the hard way in February.
“They eliminated Dortmund, which says it all,” says Tedesco. “We are aware of their qualities, they’re physically strong and always match their opponents. They’re similar to Union Berlin (who beat Leizpig 2-1 at the weekend).
“Man-orientated, very strong, strong on the wings. They have great individuals. For example, Ryan Kent really sticks out.”
CAN RANGERS BEAT RB LEIPZIG?
Rangers £7 million former Liverpool winger tends to save his most effervescent, electrifying performances for the European stage. And the onus will be on Kent to make his presence felt after Van Bronckhorst lost both of his first-choice centre-forwards – Kemar Roofe and the talismanic Alfredo Morelos – to injury.
Tedesco, however, is warning his Leipzig stars not to underestimate the unpredictable Aribo and the jet-heeled Sakala, even if Rangers are undoubtedly a weaker side on paper without Morelos, the club’s all-time top European goalscorer.
“We know that Roofe will miss the game (but) they can play Aribo as a number ten. He is strong in the half-spaces,” Tedesco adds. “And they also have Fashion.
“They have strong players with a lot of speed. Any player that plays in the forward areas for them is strong.”
