Demichelis looks to strike a blow against former club City

RB Leipzig coach Martin Demichelis faces his former club Manchester City on Wednesday as his side seek much-needed Champions League points. Leipzig host a City team that have lost twice in their past three games and won the other match on penalties.

Demichelis spent three seasons as a City player, winning the 2013-14 Premier League title and two League Cups. Leipzig have beaten City only once in six attempts, but arrive at this meeting on a three-game winning run after a difficult start under their new coach.

Leipzig’s contrasting form

Leipzig’s recent results have put them within three points of the Bundesliga’s top spot. Their European position is less comfortable: the 2020 Champions League semi-finalists are 29th in the 36-team table after winning just one of their first three games in this campaign.

The improvement follows heavy defeats earlier in Demichelis’s tenure, including a 4-1 Champions League loss at Como and a 6-1 defeat by Bayern Munich. He took charge in the summer after Leipzig sacked Ole Werner, who had guided a young team back into the Champions League and overseen the development of Yan Diomande.

Demichelis’s appointment was controversial. He had been relegated from La Liga during a short stint with Mallorca last season, but Klopp and Leipzig were convinced of his ability after he oversaw a significant upturn in Leipzig’s form.

Esteve sees a competitive coach

Leipzig centre-back Maxime Esteve said Demichelis has brought a “competitive aura” to the club. “Even in small games in training, you can see that the coach does not want to lose,” Esteve told AFP and other media on Monday.

Esteve compared Demichelis with Vincent Kompany, his former coach at Burnley and now Bayern Munich’s coach. He said both are energetic, spend considerable time at the training ground and want to address small details quickly.

A demanding test ahead

Esteve has defended against City striker Erling Haaland in the Premier League and expects another difficult contest. Calling Haaland “the best striker in the world”, he said the forward’s power, heading ability and pace make him a formidable opponent.

Leipzig’s immediate task is to turn their domestic momentum into a result in Europe. For Demichelis, Wednesday’s match offers a chance to take points from the club where he won three trophies as a player.