2023-12-03 08:40:19
With ten goals in 13 Bundesliga games, Loïs Openda is Leipzig’s top goalscorer. Coach Marco Rose really appreciates the striker, but still sees room for improvement.
Leipzig.
RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose has praised the development of striker Loïs Openda and sees even greater potential. “We’re talking about details, about first contact, about positioning,” said Rose after the 2-1 win against 1. FC Heidenheim. “That’s why he came here, to get better.”
Openda took the lead against Heidenheim with a penalty, and it was his tenth goal in the 13th Bundesliga game. Overall, his Leipzig record stands at 14 goals and three assists in 21 games. The acquisition, which cost over 40 million euros, has so far fully compensated for the sale of top scorer Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea.
Openda stands out
“I think he has absolute added value and that’s important to me to emphasize,” said Rose, describing the Belgian international’s strengths: “The boy gives us so much, he’s so uncomfortable to defend. He makes so many paths, is so strong with his low center of gravity, runs away from opponents.”
In a somewhat ailing Leipzig team, Openda is currently standing out. Even if he joined his colleagues’ usury of opportunities against Heidenheim. “It’s not that easy for us to win games at the moment,” said Rose. You are not in the most effective phase. “I’m sure that if we keep working, things will be easier for us than they are at the moment.”
Close result
Leipzig practically had itself to blame for the narrow result against Heidenheim. The Saxons should have scored at least four goals from the chances they had. The statistical value of “expected goals” alone was 4.14. Heidenheim proved to be much more effective, which is why the game remained exciting until the end.
Heidensheim coach Frank Schmidt spoke of a deserved victory for Leipzig, but struggled with referee Christian Dingert’s penalty decision in the first half.
“I have the greatest respect and I think the referees also know that it’s not easy to referee games,” said Schmidt. “But on the other hand, when I see the penalty today, I just have to say it wasn’t one.” In the scene in question, Norman Theuerkauf played the ball in a duel against Openda, according to Schmidt. (dpa)
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