RB Leipzig Remains Firm in Pursuit of Bundesliga Top-Four Finish Amid Champions League Prospects

RB Leipzig is resolute in its quest to secure a top-four finish in the Bundesliga, undeterred by the possibility of fifth place earning a spot in next season’s Champions League, stated the club’s chief business officer during a media briefing on Thursday.

As Leipzig prepares to face Borussia Dortmund in a crucial encounter on Saturday, they currently occupy the fourth position in the league standings with 59 points, holding a slim two-point advantage over Dortmund with four matches remaining in the season. A victory in the upcoming match would firmly establish the Saxony club’s position in the race for a top-four finish.

While the top four teams traditionally qualify directly for the Champions League group stage, the landscape may shift due to Germany’s potential to secure a fifth spot based on UEFA’s coefficient table. However, Johann Plenge, Leipzig’s CBO, emphasized that the club is primarily focused on achieving a top-four finish rather than dwelling on the intricacies of the fifth-place scenario.

Plenge remarked, “That potential fifth spot involves a lot of data and statistics. We are not spending too much time on this discussion. This is not something we take too much into consideration. We have the ambition to be a top-four club, and to achieve that, you have to finish in at least fourth place.”

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In addition to their Bundesliga campaign, Leipzig is gearing up for a US tour scheduled from July 28th to August 4th, culminating in a friendly match against Aston Villa in New Jersey. Reflecting on the upcoming fixture against Dortmund, Plenge expressed confidence in the team’s preparedness and determination to deliver a compelling performance on the pitch.

He stated, “The match against Dortmund is extremely important. We are very focused and 100% confident we will give everything on the pitch. I think we have a very good situation to finish the season as a top four club.”

Looking ahead to the new season, Plenge outlined Leipzig’s strategy to retain key players and minimize squad turnover, in contrast to the significant departures experienced last summer. Highlighting the club’s commitment to continuity and stability, he emphasized the importance of retaining talent and building upon the progress made in previous campaigns.

“We had a very intense transfer period last summer. We developed some great players to the Premier League. We want a less intense transfer period and to keep the players together. Having them in our team next season is what we will do in the summer,” Plenge affirmed.

As Leipzig navigates the final stretch of the Bundesliga season and plans for the future, the club remains steadfast in its pursuit of success both domestically and on the European stage, fueled by a collective ambition to uphold its stature as a top-tier football club.