Leipzig boss refuses to comment on under-fire Rose’s future after latest disappointment

After another disappointing performance and result for RB Leipzig, Marcel Schäfer didn’t want to comment on the growing pressure on head coach Marco Rose.

After an encouraging 1-0 win over Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal in midweek, RB Leipzig were sent crashing back down to earth with a 1-2 home defeat to Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The defeat puts further pressure on the shoulders of RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose. 

On previous occasions, the 48-year-old has been backed by his superiors to remain in charge. This time, however, Leipzig’s managing director for sport, Marcel Schäfer, wouldn’t comment.

One interpretation is that Schäfer didn’t want to back Rose without consulting Red Bull management. After all, it is not just Schäfer who decides on coaching matters, but also the likes of supervisory board chairman Oliver Mintzlaff and head of global soccer Jürgen Klopp.

Rose himself felt his team lacked energy.

“There were two moments where we simply didn’t defend well enough. We didn’t play with the kind of energy that we need to. We didn’t put enough pressure on them when they had possession and didn’t chase back enough,” Rose said. 

“We more or less invited them onto us and didn’t work hard enough at either end of the pitch. We didn’t turn up in the period which decided the game.”

One thing is certain: With Leipzig having won just one of their last eight Bundesliga games, the upcoming clash with Freiburg will be crucial – as will the following match against Borussia Dortmund.