Rangnick: "We not only want to win on Sunday – we have to"

Head coach Ralf Rangnick discusses the Europa League draw and the first Bundesliga home fixture of the season against Düsseldorf | Squad info: With the exception of Marcel Halstenberg, everyone is available to play |

The first home game of the new season! Just three days after qualifying for the Europa League Group stage, die Roten Bullen will face Fortuna Düsseldorf on Sunday (3:30 CEST).

Before the upcoming match at the Red Bull Arena, head coach Ralf Rangnick expresses his views on this weekend’s visitors from Düsseldorf and the Leipzig’s Europa League group that was drawn today.

Training sessions after the gruelling play-off match will decide who is fit to start against Düsseldorf.

Ralf Rangnick on ...

...The Europa League Draw

• "It’s a difficult Europa League group but also a very interesting one – this is the reason why we wanted to qualify! The draw could have hardly been better for us. We’re really looking forward to our games. However, right now, it’s important that we are successful in the two upcoming games at the Red Bull Arena.”

…The Match against Düsseldorf

• "We not only want to win on Sunday, we have to after the opening-day defeat in Dortmund. We must therefore set up well, both tactically and physically. It is also a necessity that we organize the defense better – I don’t want to concede.”

... The Team’s Development

• "It’s important to play offensively. We have to put pressure on, get enough players into the opposition’s box and create chances. We need a sense of flow when going forward and we know that we are not yet at full throttle.”