CEOInterviews.AIDie Auftakt-Pressekonferenz mit Cheftrainer Jesse Marsch & RBL-Geschäftsführer Oliver Mintzlaff

M

Moderator0:16

Yes, it's starting again. Hello and welcome to the press conference for the season start at RB Leipzig. With me are our new head coach Jesse Marsch and the chairman of our management, Oliver Mintzlaff. This press conference today is also intended for you, dear journalists, to get to know our new head coach better. So Oliver, I would ask you at the start to tell the journalists once again why we consciously decided on Jesse Marsh as the new coach of RB Leipzig.

O

Oliver Mintzlaff0:47

Thank you very much. Welcome. An unusual sight that we haven't had for over a year – journalists sitting here again. So welcome back. It looks a bit like normality and already feels good. Jesse, we are totally happy that we were able to sign our desired coach. I've known Jesse for several years. In my first role as the football responsible for Red Bull, I met Jesse in New York in 2015. When we needed a new head coach, I conducted several interviews, including with Jesse, and it was clear to me and to us that he was the right coach for New York at that time. We then removed all the designated players like Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, who we had under contract, and told him he had to work with a young team, develop young players, and manage with a small budget. In the MLS, player salaries are published down to the last cent, and Jesse became champion immediately. The supporters' shield – after 34 matchdays, the Eastern and Western Conferences are combined – and he won the championship with a team that was significantly younger than in previous years and had the smallest budget compared to the other 20 or 21 teams. Jesse also became Coach of the Year and succeeded in further developing the team in the second year, developing a clear playing philosophy that we had lacked. So we naturally stayed in close contact, and then Jesse approached me and said his wish was to coach a team in Europe. That opportunity arose when Ralf Rangnick took over the coaching role again as we signed Julian Nagelsmann, who then stayed another year in Hoffenheim. So I and Ralf asked Jesse if he could imagine coming here for a year or two. And he did, as an assistant coach – certainly unusual because there are more head coach types, but Jesse integrated himself well, then got the chance to coach Salzburg, and there too, with a huge upheaval in Salzburg, he did an excellent job. So it was logical for us, when we gave Julian the release to FC Bayern, to speak with Jesse. We are happy he is here, we are glad we found a solution, and we are all really looking forward to finally starting again.

M

Moderator3:56

Thank you, Oliver. Then Jesse, before the journalists (whom I will soon bombard with questions) – his first words and your first impressions. How was your start here in Leipzig? Your first...

J

Jesse Marsch4:10

Thank you. It's my first time, and I've gotten so many compliments from Oliver. I think it's a good start for us. I am very happy. I know this club, our fans, the stadium, so much from the past. We had a lot of fun three years ago, did very well, developed a great team, had many successes. Being back here as head coach is a great honor. I am very excited. I believe it is the right fit – that is always the most important thing for me as a coach: to work with the right people, the right club, the right idea of football, for life in football and for the general. For me, Leipzig is the perfect place. And I haven't said this yet, but my dream was always, since my time with New York, to be here as a coach in Leipzig. I am very happy to be back. I think our team is outstanding. We have so many good players, a good atmosphere. We saw at the European Championship many good players. I think there is total potential in the abilities and talents, and the mentality of this group. It is my job to create more development with this team, and we will do it together. Thank you very much.

M

Moderator5:55

Thank you very much, Jesse. Then we come to your questions. I ask once again to speak very clearly, especially if the question is directed at Jesse – with the mask, it is always not so easy to understand, and then in a different language.

The start will be made by Andreas Hunzinger from kicker. One moment, we can pass the microphone.

A

Andreas Hunzinger6:17

RB Leipzig stood for a certain style of football under Ralf Rangnick – pressing, counter-pressing. Under Julian Nagelsmann, it was a bit different, more possession because opponents often stood deep. With which style of football do you want to approach it now? Just from the basic philosophy of the game.

J

Jesse Marsch6:41

First, I have naturally seen a lot of this team in the last two years. I was always a fan of this club and team. I think the best thing is to use a bit of the things from the last two years and understand what was important for this team and group, but also to stay with our philosophy of football. So when you look at what we did in Salzburg, what we did three years ago, I think it is more towards intensity, aggressiveness against the ball. We will play hard, but it is very important, regardless of the opponent, to be good with the ball, to play in position, but also good counter-pressing, intensity. And always my goal is to control the opponent and the game completely. I think it's almost never possible; my opponents also have a lot of quality, but that's the aim – to have clarity in every phase, to control the game. So, that will be our goal.

M

Moderator7:59

Milewski from Bild newspaper, in the first row, and 3 Marc Chmielewski from Bild newspaper.

M

Marc Chmielewski8:09

I wanted to ask: how were the first days, what are the first impressions? And the first test will be at the beginning of August in Sandhausen in the DFB-Pokal. Do you even know where that is? It's a bit of a second division dwarf.

J

Jesse Marsch8:25

The first two days were very, very busy. But I know so much from the past, so that is definitely an advantage. With the players – a few new players have already talked to them and met them personally. I think we have a very good attitude, a good mood now with the group, also with the whole support staff. The training start... Sandhausen – I have never been there. I've always heard it's not easy to play in Sandhausen. An old stadium and a club that is always fighting. So I think it's not a good draw. But I know that from my time in Salzburg and also in New York, we always had difficult draws, also in the Champions League in Salzburg. So maybe it's my fault, but we are excited for the first game. We will be ready, look forward to a good opponent, a good fight.

M

Moderator9:27

Guido Schäfer from FAZ.

G

Guido Schäfer9:31

How did you come to choose your assistant coaches Achim Beierlorzer and now Marco Kurth? Does it have to do with the fact that they know the Bundesliga maybe better than you? Was that also in the background?

J

Jesse Marsch9:45

First, I got to know both from the past here. Achim has had many roles at this club. Marco, I have met with him many times. Both understand the philosophy and the football. With Achim, the experience in the Bundesliga is very important. I think both are head coach material. It is always best to find the best experts and have support and hear good opinions so that I can make the important decisions. I think we already have a very good relationship with each other because we have already gotten to know each other. And overall, we have with the video department, the scouting department, the medical department – we know each other very well, we have already had many experiences together, and I think we have many, many good men and scope for the future for us.

M

Moderator10:55

A Bulli Krömer from ZDF.

J

Josi Krömer11:01

Hello, Josi Krömer from ZDF. You already said you look forward to it. Jesse, what will you say to the team? What is the motto for this season and with what goals do you enter the season?

J

Jesse Marsch11:15

Yes, it's just the beginning. In general, I think the club has always made progress, played better, and developed more and more games. I think I have to continue working with this theme. I believe in our chances. And it's important that the mentality – the first step from me is always that we have a team that enjoys the game, with all passion, energy, positivity in the game. In large parts, quality to say, but more quality. So I think if we manage to always have confidence against every opponent...

M

Moderator12:09

Frank Kastner from dpa. Hello.

F

Frank Kastner12:14

The squad is relatively large when all return in the next weeks after the Euros. Some loan players have also returned. When is the deadline by which the squad should be finalized? And how do you see the individual personnel situations, especially for players whose contracts are expiring? Buzzer? Beater? And at Hauzenberg?

O

Oliver Mintzlaff12:34

I can only say now it's the first day of training. We have had many conversations in the last week, theoretical discussions, but I think we have to work together now and then find what are the important decisions for a few players. But we believe we have many good players. I don't know – we will not give daily water level reports about what might happen with one or another player. You know that we will always report when it's concrete. We also cannot sign a player every week. But we have a squad that in itself is already sufficient both in quality and quantity to go into the season – Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal. We do not rule out that we will still do something, and of course we do not rule out that we will still give away one or another player. That will be decided in the next few days. The European Championship is still running, the transfer window is not yet at the point where many transfers are happening; it will pick up speed slowly. Basically, we know what we want to do and will continue to work through the plan as usual and inform you when we have created facts.

M

Moderator14:03

Hannes Jacoby from Sky Sport News.

H

Hannes Jacoby14:07

Forgive me, I haven't seen every game of Salzburg logically, but I had the impression that in your first season you played with many different systems, and in the last season almost only 4-2-2-2. Was that learning and maybe resulting from that? The question: what can we expect in principle?

J

Jesse Marsch14:29

My idea of our football is not dependent on the formation. It is always how to use our game and also what is the match plan against a particular opponent. In the first year with Salzburg, we tried a lot of formations, mostly with success. I think here we have a lot of flexibility in the squad – how intelligent the players are, how flexible they are. And I think with this squad we have many players who can play many positions very strongly. So that is an advantage for me. In the end, it's always important to find the right balance in a team – how flexible, how constant, which game plays, and everything. But again, I think the advantage with our squad is that it is so broad. We have so many qualities in so many positions, and it's my job to create all games on the pitch and to use the important time – whether from the start or from the bench – and the important decisions for what is important for each opponent in each situation. But that is the coach's job. I think we will find a good balance with this theme and use what we need at the important time.

M

Moderator16:08

Jan Günther, MDR radio.

J

Jan Günther16:15

Oliver, what do you expect from this season? And what should Bayern and Julian Nagelsmann brace themselves for?

O

Oliver Mintzlaff16:24

Well, what do I expect from the season? Naturally, that we continue where we left off. We have taken continuous development, now go into the sixth Bundesliga season, and naturally have the expectation that we will qualify for international business again, and that includes the Champions League – so places one to four. We experienced how great it is for the club, even if we had to celebrate the last Champions League parties without fans, but how great it is when you survive the group stage, reach the round of 16, or even further. Also, apart from the draw, our wish is again to survive the group stage and maybe take the next step. In the DFB-Pokal, we managed to reach the final twice in three years, and that is a fantastic competition; we naturally want to stay in as long as possible. So we take up where we left off. We want to continue to establish ourselves as one of the top clubs in Germany, knowing that this is our sixth Bundesliga season and FC Bayern is FC Bayern – they remain the clear number one in Germany. We are not attacking FC Bayern. We have reached into our pockets a bit, that's the only thing we did. Apart from that, we look at ourselves and will try to further develop the team with Jesse Marsh – down-to-earth but ambitious and with the will to take the next step.

M

Moderator17:54

We continue with the colleagues who haven't asked a question yet. Stefan Schönau, MDR television.

S

Stefan Schönau17:56

Was there something like a handover, a telephone call? And can we learn all the details?

J

Jesse Marsch18:03

Yes, I have no contact with him. I think competition with Bayern in this league is always very exciting. A great team, Julian is a good coach. But again, as Oliver said, we have to think about ourselves and work, and then our aim here. If we have strong work together daily, I think this group has a lot of potential. So that's our task to achieve.

M

Moderator18:46

Yes, the colleagues over there, please once. Heike Fiedler in Saxony...

H

Heike Fiedler18:56

I would like to know how the relationship with the players is in everyday life. Are you a coach who talks a lot with the guys? Does that belong to your work philosophy? And the second question: have you already received a welcome message from the Leipzig players, maybe via SMS, WhatsApp, or something, saying how happy they are that you are here?

J

Jesse Marsch19:28

First, I love working with young players. We have done very well with the club and with my coaching staff in the last years, had a lot of fun. Part of that work is having good relationships, close relationships, strong relationships where we can exchange and give feedback – always positive but important. And for me, humanity is the first priority for what is important for these young players to have development. So certainly that is my style: to be a leader more than a coach. And here we have a mix of players with a lot of experience. I think it's important for us to understand that we must use that experience from the last years with many of our players, what they have done together, also in the European Championship – it's great to see how well players like Peter, Willi Orban, Piccola, Sprossen played so well with a lot of experience. I think they are great professionals. We will use that quality also with the young talents, the potential of the whole group, to find a team with the right mentality. And regarding the second question about welcome messages: yes, I have had a lot of phone calls with many of the guys, almost all with relationships from the past. With many of these guys we had a lot of fun, good exchange. And we are very much looking forward to working together for the next years. It's an advantage for me and for us that we already know each other. We will use that experience to have strong relationships in the group.

M

Moderator21:49

Good, then we go to the second round of questions. Andreas Hunzinger, do you have a question still open? From kicker, then shoot.

A

Andreas Hunzinger21:59

Question to Jesse or both. They talk about development, we want to continue the development. The development in the last years was constantly upward, but the argument for titles is still missing by a small, minimal piece. What needs to be added to the package so that in the end you can also lift a pot or a plate? And what is interesting?

J

Jesse Marsch22:31

What is interesting is that in the last years we have had a lot of success against opponents we should beat. We need to have good performances against all opponents, but against top opponents it's always the question of how we go, as they say in English, 'to go' because that's important. It has to do with mentality and self-confidence to deliver our best performance against these opponents. Also a very strong plan, clarity on the pitch, good decisions at the right moment from players, from the coaching staff, from me. But it will not be easy; that is the job for us: the next big step towards opponents like Dortmund and Bayern, the best teams, to play our best game.

M

Moderator23:38

Milewski for Bild newspaper.

M

Marc Chmielewski23:43

You said you have already spoken with most players. Now my question also with Alexander Sørloth – he didn't have such a strong season last summer. Now other players like Silva come, the top scorer. How do you see him and his role? And what about the contact already?

J

Jesse Marsch24:00

We spoke yesterday for a long time. It was a good conversation. Alex is a great guy. And yes, let's see – I know for sure he is a great player. It didn't go so well for him last year, but to be fair to Alex, he also had difficulties with COVID and didn't find much rhythm. So let's see what happens in the next weeks and days, but I am very much looking forward to getting to know him better and working with him.

M

Moderator24:36

Frank Kastner again from dpa: also an extended arm on the pitch? The captaincy question is pending. Are there already favorites? Is there a mode? Will there be a vote? Or will it come from outside? Player? Radja? First, Mabi is captain for the last two years.

F

Frank Kastner24:40

The captaincy question is pending. Are there already favorites? Is there a mode? Will they be elected? Or will it come from outside?

J

Jesse Marsch24:54

First, Mabi has been captain for the last two years. Let's see exactly what happens. But the captain is important, but I think we can have a very good exchange and relationship with many of our experienced players. We have very good trust with each other and we understand exactly what is important for our ideal of what a top team is. It was the same in my previous team; I had a great relationship with the captain, but the player council was also a big part of the development of the whole group and a big part of the identity of the team. I say, please never write that this is my team and my players – I never say that. I always say it's our community, and they are the players, and it's important that we understand that we are a great team. It's not about the coach or the CEO or the media director, it's about the whole group and what we achieve together, how we play together. So that will be our way.

M

Moderator26:09

Schäfer has another question for LVZ.

G

Guido Schäfer26:12

There is this legendary scene in Liverpool, motto: friendly match. Can we expect more of that? Will you also be emotional in the break like in Liverpool? That was awesome, I almost turned it around at the Anfield Road. I think... not so emotional? I have been in many situations in years, but what is it? I think a part of this position as a coach is to have the important feeling for the community in the important moment and also to give the important message sometimes tactically or what happens in a game, but sometimes it's directly about the mentality or an attitude or a feeling. Inspiration is part of it, but it's important that I always find the right message.

J

Jesse Marsch26:29

I think as a coach, part of this position is to have the important feeling for the community in the important moment and also to give the important message. Sometimes it's tactical or what happens in a game, but sometimes it's directly about the mentality or an attitude or a feeling. So inspiration is part of it, but it's important that I always find the right message.

M

Moderator27:14

Jan Günther, MDR radio.

J

Jan Günther27:17

One can ask both. Dani and Josef Pause? There are two of your players still at the Euros. How do you assess their performances? And is there currently communication?

J

Jesse Marsch27:29

For me, my goal is always to give a bit of support to the boys, but not when they are with the national team – they have to play for their national team and the focus must be there. So I have written positive messages to our boys and yes, we are proud of our boys. Dani has played very well, yes, Ucy? had a small injury but is back in the squad and played. So it was exciting; I was always very, very happy and proud to watch our boys at this tournament.

O

Oliver Mintzlaff28:12

I can only agree with that. It makes us proud that so many players from here have made their way into the national team and then also set clear accents. Now we cross our fingers for those still in the tournament and hope that everyone returns healthy. But clearly, it makes us proud. And also the performance of Emil Forsberg for his national team was impressive. The boys will bring that positive energy back, and it will certainly help us here.

M

Moderator28:44

Polycom still again from ZDF.

J

Josi Krömer28:46

For you, this is also a big task, this job, this dream that comes true. What do you have to learn yourself to do justice to this task? And a detail question about the squad: which young players – you spoke earlier about young players – will now be included, maybe from your own youth?

J

Jesse Marsch29:06

First, with this task, I have to use all my experience to be an important leader for this group. But again, it's not just about what I have to do; it's that we have a really strong team in the squad, and that is always my goal. In the end, my first and last goal is that we are a strong group. With the young players today, we have many – do you need all the names? I think we have many today. But it's not fair to name them. We have many young players from the youth, many players that trained with the team. But it's important, I know some from the past; we had talent training here, I was for the young players, the Caritas? We thought they had potential. So it was a lot of fun in that time, I think it was also important for now, but I have to get a new impression. In the first days, it's exciting for me to see how these players have developed.

M

Moderator30:27

Heike Fiedler again from MDR radio.

H

Heike Fiedler30:31

Now we have seen you personally. May I ask a private question? One can see your joy so much that you are here in Leipzig. Now I wanted to know if you have maybe already looked into a new apartment or a nice district? Can you say something about that if you like?

J

Jesse Marsch30:52

Yes, my family and I had so much fun in this city. I think it's a great restaurant and culture city, many young people. We already had a stay here; it was good for me as an assistant coach to be relatively anonymous in the city. I think that won't happen so much now, which is a bit unfortunate, but we will enjoy the community here, the many things in the environment. And we came here with three children, and now we have two at schools/universities... I am an old man, yes, I only have one child at home, maybe too bad for my wife to be alone more.

M

Moderator31:44

Good, there is one more question, then we come to the end. Please, the colleague on the camera pedestal. Robert Rist for Perform. One more question about the Euros.

R

Robert Rist31:52

The Euros are in the hot phase. Which team has surprised you the most? And for all of us as help for betting this evening: Italy vs. Spain? Or something like that.

J

Jesse Marsch32:02

I am always a fan of our boys. So I would say Denmark against Spain? Then let's see how it goes. But it's always a bit different than club football, and it's not so easy for these coaches to use a playing style or many tactical things when the community has only been together for a month. But it's always exciting. I find that Italy has surprised with the way they play, so intense. I am a fan of Germany; it's a shame that Germany didn't play their best. The coach? team didn't have more time to show their quality. But overall, it's an exciting Euros.

M

Moderator32:55

Good, then I say thank you for your interest and the questions. Nice that you and your colleagues are back in the room. And we will see each other later outside at the pitch at 10:15 when training starts. See you later.