RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose looks to Swiss soccer for Bundesliga preparation

RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose is also watching Swiss soccer in preparation for the Bundesliga opener against VfL Bochum. "We had a test match against St. Gallen in the winter, we used that as an example," said Rose. Bochum's new coach Peter Zeidler previously spent six years at FC St. Gallen. "Peter stands for principles. We know roughly what to expect."

Dreams of the championship

Last season, Leipzig only managed a 0-0 draw against VfL, missing two penalties in the process. In the season that begins for RB on Saturday (3.30 p.m./Sky), Rose wants to avoid such lapses - in order to stay in the championship fight for as long as possible. "There's a lot to do to get there, but we allow ourselves to dream," said Rose about the title ambitions. "We have to play a few good games, start a series, stay healthy and continue to develop."

A new appointment to the bench should help with this development. Sports director Rouven Schröder will move from the stands down to the pitch. "Rouven supports me on the bench and we have the feeling that we are in the best possible position there," said Rose. The new sporting director Marcel Schäfer will have an overview from the stands.

Elmas and Baumgartner fit

Rose does not see this as a curtailment of his responsibilities. In Mönchengladbach, the then manager Max Eberl sat next to him, in Dortmund it was Michael Zorc or Sebastian Kehl. "There was no one here for the first two years and it's not as if I missed anyone," said Rose. "But it felt really good in Essen." Leipzig had won 4:1 at Rot-Weiss Essen in the first round of the DFB Cup.

The only players missing were Xaver Schlager, who has a cruciate ligament injury, and new signing Assan Ouédraogo due to knee problems. Christoph Baumgartner and Eljif Elmas are at least in contention for a place in the squad.