RB Leipzig: Schlager back in training after cruciate ligament rupture

Only around eleven weeks after tearing his cruciate ligament, Xaver Schlager is back on the training pitch at RB Leipzig. Although the Austrian international only completed individual exercises with the athletics coach on Wednesday, he ran around the pitch in excellent physical condition. The 26-year-old midfielder tore a cruciate ligament in his left knee against TSG Hoffenheim on May 3 and underwent immediate surgery in Innsbruck. Schlager had already been out for just five-and-a-half months when he ruptured the cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2021 - when he was still playing for VfL Wolfsburg.

While Kevin Kampl was absent due to an infection, André Silva, Hugo Novoa and Lukas Klostermann only trained individually. Belgian new signing Maarten Vandevoordt made a strong impression. The goalkeeper from KRC Genk is particularly keen to learn from regular keeper Peter Gulacsi. "He's a great goalkeeper. He has a lot of experience. I can learn a lot from him," said the 22-year-old. Head coach Marco Rose has recently expressed his enthusiasm: "A good guy and a really good goalkeeper, you can already see that in the first few sessions."

EM players are gradually joining

Hungarian international Gulacsi and captain Willi Orban are expected to train next Monday. They will be followed by Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko, Yussuf Poulsen, Christoph Baumgartner and Nicolas Seiwald shortly before their departure for the US training camp (July 28 to August 4). German internationals Benjamin Henrichs and David Raum will begin their preparations in Leipzig on August 1 - both will be absent in New York. However, the return of hotly tipped Dani Olmo and Xavi Simons to Cottaweg is still open.