It's about hits

Rose contradicts Rangnick

Marco Rose sees the Xaver Schlager case differently to Ralf Rangnick - although the latter hardly said anything different to Rose.

(Bild: APA/MAX SLOVENCIK, APA/AFP/THOMAS KIENZLE)

Leipzig coach Marco Rose contradicts ÖFB team manager Ralf Rangnick. What the latter had said during the week about Xaver Schlager's injury status was "not correct".

One after the other: Rangnick had stated during the week in an ORF interview that Leipzig legionnaire Xaver Schlager "probably has a bone edema" to digest and therefore "might already miss one or two games". At least that was true for Leipzig's Bundesliga match against Stuttgart (1:2) on Wednesday. Leipzig were not in the squad then. And he won't be against Bochum today either.

"Didn't say any nonsense either"
Nevertheless, Leipzig coach Rose does not seem to be really happy with Rangnick's interview. During a media appointment on Friday, he felt compelled to state that Rangnick's statements were downright wrong. "It's not right that it can take longer" (which Rangnick didn't say, please note), said Rose. He continued: "I didn't say anything nonsensical at the time, I said what is fact. We have high hopes that he will be able to train again on Saturday."

Nothing protracted
Strictly speaking, Schlager - with Stuttgart and Bochum - will have already missed the "one or two games" promised by Rangnick. At least Rangnick and Rose agree on one thing: Schlager's injury is not a long-term one. He first had to digest this with the cruciate ligament rupture in May anyway.