Perfectionist Schäfer wants the maximum at RB Leipzig

After his first five weeks in office at RB Leipzig, sporting director Marcel Schäfer is impressed by the energy, the goals and the dreams at the Saxon Bundesliga club. "What I sense here at this club is this ambition. I like that, I like it when you strive for the maximum," said Marcel Schäfer today in Leipzig.

He firmly believes that the club has what it takes to compete for titles. "That's a normal development when you're playing in the Champions League on a permanent basis, when you've already won titles, when one or two people are talking about the championship. I believe that such dreams and goals are not forbidden. I also want it to be anchored in the club that you strive for the really big things."

On the other hand, the long-time Wolfsburg professional, who won the first German championship with VfL in 2009, is a man of action. "But then my clear expectation is that I want to see that every day. One thing is to talk about things, the other is to bring them to life. And that means in soccer, it can sometimes be a seven-day week or a really long day, into the night," said the 40-year-old.

Schäfer sees himself as a perfectionist

He himself wants to set an example. "I'm a perfectionist, if we're always talking about this maximum, then I want to have that at all levels. I at least want to see that we give it our all. We can't be perfect anyway, but we want to get close," said Schäfer, who did not want to use the word championship title. "We saw in Leverkusen that it can happen."

He praised his team and sporting director Rouven Schröder for a good summer of transfers. "We've been able to tick off all the boxes we set ourselves in this transfer window. Everyone played their part, at very different stages, in the planning, preparation and finalization. Now we have to bring it onto the pitch to some extent," said Schröder.