RB Leipzig head coach speaks on Xavi Simons’ disastrous Bundesliga outing

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·3. Mai 2025

RB Leipzig head coach speaks on Xavi Simons’ disastrous Bundesliga outing

Among the worst players on the pitch in last week’s Bundesliga debacle against Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons almost certainly won’t be given the captain’s armband this weekend against FC Bayern Munich. RB interim head coach Zsolt Löw had harsh words for the 22-year-old whilst speaking at his Friday press conference.

Tasked with running the link-up play in the final third as a short-striker in a 3-5-2 formation, Simons could not execute at all. He accrued just 58 touches. Most all of his 37 passes played went rearward. At no point in the match did Simons complete a forward pass to RB lead striker Benjamin Sesko. Löw admitted he had something of a dilemma on his hands ahead of the next match.

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With experienced squad leaders Peter Gulacsi (concussion) and Willi Orban (thigh injury) remaining doubtful for the match, Löw may have to find someone else to serve as skipper. Former German International Lukas Klostermann counts as a candidate. Veteran Kevin Kampl and always enthusiastic “team player” David Raum (both returning from injury) could also don the armband.

“We talked about why he would get the captain’s armband and what we expect from him before the Frankfurt game,” Löw said on Friday. “It’s clear that he hasn’t been able to fulfill that role He tried, but there’s still room for improvement.“ “I’m happy with the way he handled a constructive conversation,” Löw was nevertheless sure to add. “We both would have liked things to have gone differently. I won’t be making [the captaincy decision for the forthcoming match] on my own.”

GGFN | Peter Weis