RB coach Rose fights for Xavi - "mega relaxed" with Olmo

Marco Rose believes loan player Xavi Simons will stay at RB Leipzig. "I am still optimistic that we can definitely keep our top players here, because they want to stay here, because they know what they have in Leipzig, because they have made good steps here," said the head coach on Friday after the 1-0 win in the test match against SV Babelsberg.

He is also not worried about Dani Olmo's €60 million release clause, which expires this Saturday. "I'm super relaxed about it, I can't change it anyway. We'll know tomorrow, but I'll sleep peacefully. Again, we have a good team. We'll have a good team again. We have ideas on how we might compensate for things. And if tomorrow the day is over and nothing has happened, then the coach is happy," said Rose.

Last contact with Xavi

Rose has recently been in regular contact with the Dutch international. "Xavi told me on the last phone call, coach I'm fine, I'm going on vacation now and I'm also turning off my phone. And I haven't heard anything since," explained the 48-year-old Rose.

The coach responded with a wink to an Instagram post in which Xavi shows a Uno playing card symbolizing a change of direction: "Maybe he was just playing cards on vacation. That option does exist," said Rose, adding: "It's transfer season. And we've noticed that some clubs are still signing players everywhere, but they still have to sell. We have an absolutely top core, a good basis. And of course we try to keep our top players."

In Rose's opinion, the loan signing from Paris Saint-Germain is still a Leipzig player. "We hope that the boy will come back. I've already said: We're still on it, we're in good spirits. And somehow he's still one of our players, even though we don't have a hand in it. For me, Xavi is a RB player, whatever comes out," said Rose.

Squad size again minimal

Once again, RB will not have an oversized squad. Rose would rather "let everyone play and have good competition". And should there be any departures in the transfer phase, then "we will react with a similar position profile. Around that, we have two or three position profiles where we'll see if something really good comes up, then we'll be there," emphasized Rose.