Bundesliga
Nagelsmann relishing title tilt at Leipzig
Julian Nagelsmann insists he is happy that RB Leipzig expect him to win titles with the club when he becomes their head coach this summer.
Nagelsmann is leaving Hoffenheim to take over from Ralf Rangnick, who will continue as sporting director of the team that finished third in the 2018/19 Bundesliga season.
Rangnick pointed out recently that Nagelsmann had aimed to win the league with Hoffenheim, so it was not unreasonable to expect him to have a similar ambition with Leipzig.
In response, Nagelsmann said he was aware that he had been recruited by Leipzig in order to win silverware. “That’s why I signed, because I think it’s a good team that’s capable of development,” Nagselsmann said, when Bild put Rangnick’s comments to him.
“He can’t finish third this year and then say ‘with Julian, it’s enough for us to finish sixth.’ I think it’s good that he trusts me and us to be successful. Whether we’ll be champions or not next year, I don’t know. It depends on a huge number of things. But of course we want to go into the season with ambition and to win titles.”
Nagelsmann guided Hoffenheim to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history but, with their European campaign weighing heavily upon them, his side came up just short of the European places in 2018/19.
The 31-year-old is hopeful, though, that Hoffenheim can improve on their ninth-placed finish under new head coach Alfred Schreuder, who recently enjoyed success as assistant manager of Ajax, having previously occupied the same role under Nagelsmann at Hoffenheim.
“It’s hard to say because I still don’t know what new signings they’ll make,” Nagelsmann said, when asked about how Hoffenheim would do without him next season.
“Such a change is not without danger. But I think the squad is solid. I’m sure that they can finish in the top six… I hope that Hoffenheim are successful again because I want my work to have left a bit of sustainability.”