The Demichelis Manchester City reunion will take on an added meaning as RB Leipzig host the English giants in a Champions League match on Wednesday under their new head coach Martin Demichelis.
The former Argentina international spent three seasons at Manchester City, not only helping them to win the 2013-14 Premier League title but also the two League Cups. As they have now become close allies, the 45-year-old will get his chance to test his former club as he becomes a much more established manager.
Leipzig have only won once in their last six games against City. But the results of recent times indicate that the visitors may be in trouble, having lost two of their last three games, and the only one won so far by a penalty shootout.
After being scouted by former Red Bull football executive Jurgen Klopp, Demichelis joined their club in the summer. His appointment cost popular coach Ole Werner who had lead Leipzig to a return to the Champions League and a nursing of their promising young talent Yan Diomande. Real Madrid have reportedly pledged to pay €125 million for Diomande, which was signed to Leipzig for around €20 million a year ago.
Demichelis’ hiring was met with some criticism after he was dropped by La Liga with Mallorca last season. His first years at Leipzig were tough, too, as the team suffered two heavy losses at Como and Bayern Munich, leading to doubts about the direction the club was going in.
But Leipzig are back on their feet with three straight wins and are three points back from the Bundesliga leaders. In Europe, they continue to be a worry. The semi-finalists of the Champions League 2020 are in 29th place in the 36-team table with only one win in their last three games.
