Orban as the key: return of the winning mentality

In reality, it was nothing more than a must-win against the team bottom of the table. However, RB Leipzig can take the 2-0 win against Darmstadt 98 a little higher, as it was not only the successful conclusion to the last English week of the season, but also marked something of an end to the results crisis. "We're back where we want to be," was how striker Yussuf Poulsen summed it up.

This applies to what happens on the pitch, but not (yet) to the table. They are still in fifth place, one point behind Borussia Dortmund and therefore one place below their own expectations. There are now five games against the lower mid-table teams in the Bundesliga before Leipzig host BVB on matchday 31 at the end of April.

After just two wins from seven games this year, the mood at Cottaweg was tense. Qualifying for the top flight is imperative if the squad is to be retained and strengthened. After the wins against Bochum and Darmstadt and the remarkable 1:1 at Real Madrid in the Champions League, the world is a different place. "We are now a bit more serious in our processes again," said Willi Orban.

This development can certainly be linked to the defensive boss. Since Orban returned to the starting eleven following his knee injury, Leipzig have only lost one game - in stoppage time at Bayern Munich. "We had problems at the start of the year, we were sloppy in some areas. And we didn't get the results we actually deserved," said Orban.

Despite highly talented defenders such as Ibrahime Konaté, Josko Gvardiol, Dayot Upamecano or now Mohammed Simakan and Castello Lukeba, Orban always plays. The captain's presence, will and ambition are almost impossible for the team to compensate for. Orban also opened the scoring against Darmstadt when he forced Thomas Isherwood to score an own goal in the third minute. The second goal by joker Christoph Baumgartner shortly after the start of the second half was then overdue given the chances.

And if you want to look for problems in Leipzig's performance, then you inevitably end up with the conversion of chances. Bayern scored eight goals from 25 shots on goal against Mainz. Leipzig made only two from 28 against Darmstadt. Sometimes you got the feeling that your teammates weren't quick enough to think for Xavi Simons' ideas. And sometimes everyone just wanted to score and overlooked the better-positioned player next to them.

There is still work to be done for coach Rose, who now has plenty of time to do so after the Champions League exit. Leipzig no longer have any English weeks and can concentrate fully on the league and fourth place. "We've got results now," said Rose "I like the way we're taking on tasks and we have to continue on that path. But we don't actually have enough points for what we're playing. We want to get back into the Champions League, so we have to win."