Martin Demichelis has officially commenced his duties as RB Leipzig head coach, with sporting director Marcel Schäfer demanding an aggressive, front-foot approach from the former Argentina international.
Demichelis, who was appointed last week to succeed Ole Werner, began work at the Bundesliga club on Monday. Schäfer, Leipzig’s managing director for sport, used an interview with Bild to outline the footballing identity he expects the 44-year-old to impose.
‘Attack mode’ football
Schäfer wants Leipzig to play with “incredibly high intensity, high pressing and winning the ball back early,” he told the German publication. The sporting director described this approach as an “attack mode” style that seeks immediate forward momentum after regaining possession.
“We want to win matches. That comes through a tactical component, a physical component. And there is also this enthusiasm, this fire, this passion. Martin combines all of that,” Schäfer said. He highlighted Demichelis’s experience playing under elite coaches throughout his career, noting that the Argentine “knows pressure situations, when you have to deliver.”
Mallorca relegation ‘no concern’
Demichelis arrives in Germany following a brief spell in charge of RCD Mallorca, where he was unable to prevent the club from slipping into Spain’s second tier. During his 12-match tenure on the island, he secured five wins and three draws, yet the team suffered relegation.
Schäfer dismissed any worries about that failure, pointing to the points return achieved during Demichelis’s short window in charge. “Yes, he was relegated with Mallorca. But he only coached the team for twelve matches and achieved a points average that would have been enough to qualify for Europe in La Liga,” he explained.
Leipzig finished last season with what Schäfer termed a “very solid foundation,” and the club now seeks to elevate its intensity, physical dominance and enthusiasm under the new head coach.
Caution on Kompany and Alonso comparisons
Recent Bundesliga history has seen former players such as Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen and Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich make immediate impacts as head coaches. When asked whether Leipzig anticipate similar success from Demichelis, Schäfer urged restraint.
“First of all, I believe that Martin will simply do us good with his experience and his character traits. Of course, you can see a trend where Kompany and Alonso have brought certain things that not only shaped their respective clubs but also the league. But that is no guarantee. Therefore, I would be cautious with premature comparisons,” he said.
Demichelis now faces the task of translating Schäfer’s vision into results as Leipzig prepare for the upcoming campaign.