13 percent possession: Guardiola cracks the Leipzig code

After its first home defeat to Manchester City, RB Leipzig has set itself new learning goals. "We are learning from this that it makes sense to take care of possession," coach Marco Rose said after the 3-1 loss in the second Champions League group stage match. "We want to get better there, we don't want to be at 13 percent after 20 minutes." The defending champion had dominated the Saxons especially in the first half with an outstanding ball security and according to Rose "completely deserved to win."

Despite the defeat, Leipzig has the best chances to advance. With three points, one is second behind the English champion. The competition from Belgrade and Bern took the points from each other in the direct duel with a 2:2.

Previously Leipzig had not lost both home games against City, from which star coach Pep Guardiola has drawn his lessons. "Pep wants to deliberately let us come even less in our pressing, by letting play even more patient, even more short triangles," explained Rose. Nothing surprised him, he said, but "you can come up with 1,000 plans, but in the end it's Manchester City." Rose would have liked better decision-making from his team, especially in the first half, once they had possession.