RB Leipzig managing director reflects on club’s worst ever Bundesliga finish | OneFootball

A 2-3 home loss against VfB Stuttgart on the 2024/25 Bundesliga’s final matchday leaves RB Leipzig in a rather embarrassing position. For the first time in seven years, the German Red Bulls will not be playing Champions League football next season.

A seventh-place finish means that the Saxons have not even managed to qualify for the Europa League. It will instead be the Conference League playoff next autumn for the club after their lowest German top division finish ever in terms of placement and points earns.

Leipzig were able to at least finish their chances during a sluggish first half and entered the locker room with a flattering 2-1 half-time lead. Unfortunately, the team crumbled in the second 45.

Sloppy defending enabled Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade to head home an equalizer off a corner. A misplaced pass from defender Lutsharel Geertruida enabled Ermedin Demirovic to score the game-winning goal.

“Today was emblematic of the entire season,” RB sporting director Marcel Schäfer told Sky Germany afterwards. “There are no new insights. It was a disappointing season for the players, the team and the club. We failed to achieve our goals. That’s why we are where we are and won’t be playing internationally next year.

“We just didn’t manage it,” Schäfer continued. “We have to have open and honest discussions with the players and bring in new additions to strengthen the squad. We’ll communicate [the news about the next head coach] when the time comes.“

GGFN | Peter Weis