by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- What seems like an escape is intended to ease the burden on RB Leipzig's squad, and perhaps more crucially, provide relief for embattled coach Marco Rose.
Ahead of a critical Bundesliga match against Freiburg, the coach of the 2022 and 2023 German Cup winners organized a "time-out" retreat meant to clear minds and refocus his team.
Following a troubling stretch of just one win in eight matches and a disastrous UEFA Champions League campaign, sporting director Marcel Schaefer has made it clear: Saturday's game is a final for Rose.
On Wednesday, Leipzig departed for a crisis training camp at RB Salzburg's facilities, aiming to consolidate forces and foster a siege mentality. The move was coordinated with key figures, including Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and newly appointed "Global Head of Soccer" Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp, a former Liverpool legend, reportedly vetoed Rose's dismissal after last week's home loss to Mainz. The two share a long-standing relationship dating back to their time at Mainz, where Klopp coached Rose from 2002 to 2008.
Since joining Red Bull's global soccer operations in January 2025, Klopp has been tasked with overseeing the company's network of clubs. While Rose is safe for now, both Klopp and Mintzlaff are expected to reassess his position based on Saturday's outcome.
After six straight years of Champions League qualification, Leipzig is at risk of missing out for the first time since its Bundesliga promotion in 2016. Expectations remain high, Mintzlaff has called for Leipzig, Red Bull's flagship club, to take the next step. While the Champions League campaign fell short, finishing in the Bundesliga's top four remains the minimum target.
Rose still has support within the squad, but results will be the ultimate decider. "He gets into our heads and finds the right words," German international David Raum said. "He is the right person."
The full-back also defended the training camp, calling it a "sensible" decision. "We need to get away and work together outside our usual environment," Raum said.
Despite the pressure, Rose, who previously coached Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund, remains composed. But he knows one thing: only a win will truly bring relief. ■
