RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose doesn’t see his team as the number one rival of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich ahead of the team’s duel in Munich on Friday but hopes that things will improve after the winter break.
Bayern are six points ahead of Leipzig in fourth as the eastern Germans had to swallow injuries of key players and went through a bad spell in November.
Rose has now steadied the ship again as Leipzig have won their last two league matches and also advanced in the German Cup.
But he told reporters on Thursday that “we are a long way off at the moment, you have to be honest.”
However, Rose hopes to challenge with his team after the winter break when more players will be available again.
“I have always said that if all our players are fit, then I believe we can do anything,” he said. “I hope all will be healthy again at some stage.
Xaver Schlager, Xavi Simons and David Raum were for sidelined for months.
Schlager has returned, Raum is set to be in the squad for the first time at the year-ender in Munich while playmaker Simons won’t be back until January. Kevin Kampl and Amadou Haidara are meanwhile doubtful for Friday.
Rose said that Munich are favourites despite a first league defeat last weekend in Mainz, especially because they have star striker and league top scorer Harry Kane back from injury.
“Fourteen goals and seven assists – that’s the difference, that’s what makes Kane special. You can see straight away when he’s missing, but you can also see straight away when he’s on. He doesn’t need a long warm-up time,” Rose said.
