Werner: “We want to be champions”

The striker was speaking after his goal wrapped up another three points for Die Roten Bullen as they beat promoted Paderborn 3-2 on Matchday 13.

The result moved Leipzig top and two points clear of Borussia Mönchenglabdach prior to their win at home to another top-six side, Freiburg, on Sunday.

“We’re up there now, we’re up in the top group. We don’t want to relax at all, we want to be German champions,” Werner said after his side’s latest ascent to the top, if only for 24 hours. “Our goal is for us to be among the top teams until the and, and we’ll see what comes of it.”

Watch: Werner: "We want to be champions"

Coach Julian Nagelsmann, however, wasn’t willing to talk about the possibility of a title in his first season at the Red Bull Arena, instead stressing the need to keep going: “You can’t buy anything with top spot after Matchday 13, but it still looks good.”

Patrik Schick, though, was more forthright in his opinion. When the Roma loanee was asked after his first Bundesliga start and goal whether Leipzig could win the title, the Czech forward replied: “Of course we can. We’ll give everything to keep fighting for the title.”

One reason Leipzig are able to dream of a first piece of silverware in the club’s history is because of their irrepressible form in November.

Watch: Highlights of Werner's hat-trick of goals and assists

Six competitive matches have brought about five wins, plus a UEFA Champions League draw against Benfica to secure progress to the competition’s knockout stage for the first time.

In four Bundesliga games, Nagelsmann’s side have netted a league-best 19 goals. No other team claimed the maximum haul of points in November, and a large part of that was down to Werner.

He got on the scoresheet in each of those four league matches, netting seven times in total, as well as providing five assists. That run included a hat-trick of each in a single game against Mainz as Leipzig recorded their biggest-ever win of 8-0.

The Germany international’s form over those recent games, during which he became the youngest player to make 200 Bundesliga appearances, has seen him keep pace with the almost unimaginable goalscoring form of Robert Lewandowski.

The Bayern Munich striker leads the standings with 16 goals from 13 games, but Werner is hot on his heels with 13 of his own this term. By means of comparison, the 23-year-old scored 16 in the whole of last season’s league campaign, and 13 in 2017/18.

His personal best of 21 from Leipzig’s maiden Bundesliga season is well within sights. Perhaps, too, is the Meisterschale for the league’s youngest club.