RB Leipzig starts new season: Ole Werner without Poulsen and Lukeba!

RB Leipzig starts new season: Ole Werner without Poulsen and Lukeba!

On Monday at 2 p.m. the time has come: RB Leipzig returns to the training ground after the summer break. A hallmark of this preparation is that Yussuf Poulsen, the club's long-time striker, is absent from the game for the first time since 2013. The Dane has now signed a contract with Hamburger SV until 2027, which was officially announced on Sunday evening. With 425 appearances for RB Leipzig, Poulsen leaves a significant gap in the team.

Another player who is initially missing is Castello Lukeba. The talented defender will get an extra week of vacation after his appearance at the U21 European Championships. Lukeba reached the semi-finals with the French national team, which certainly gave him a lot of experience. However, he struggled with injuries last season, including muscular problems and a hamstring injury, which affected his fitness in the Bundesliga. RB Leipzig has therefore set itself high goals to avoid injuries to Lukeba this season.

New coach, new tactics

An exciting phase begins for the team with the new coach Ole Werner. The 37-year-old plans to play with a back four in the future, which could give the team's defense new structure. On Sunday Werner attended the MotoGP race at the Sachsenring as part of his preparation. “It was an interesting change from football,” said the coach about the visit to the event, which could obviously bring some inspiration for the coming weeks.

The past few seasons have shown that players' susceptibility to injury is a big issue - and not just at RB Leipzig. According to a review of past injuries, muscle injuries are the most common reasons why players are sidelined, followed by illness and minor injuries. The thigh in particular is the most frequently injured body part in the Bundesliga, which also affected Lukeba. These developments have increased the pressure on teams to take good preventive measures to keep their players fit.

Outlook for the season

It will be an interesting season for RB Leipzig fans, filled with numerous challenges and great opportunities at the same time. Preparation is the first step on this journey. Lukeba and the other players now have the chance to prepare optimally for the upcoming games. The team not only has to work on their fitness, but also on the coach's new tactics in order to be successful in international competition and in the league.

During the international break, fans could look forward to the team's development. Leipzig is hopeful that they can put together a powerful team for the new season despite the departures and injury problems. The anticipation of the first start of training and the entire coming season is palpable thanks to the new constellation. Let's go, RB Leipzig!

You can find out more about Yussuf Poulsen's move and the current condition of Castello Lukeba in the articles from Picture, as well as details on injuries in the Bundesliga footballinjuries.com.