Bundesliga newcomers RB Leipzig have developd rapidly and Rangers need to do the same.
Rangers’ glamour friendly with RB Leipzig on Sunday could easily be boiled down into a simple battle between the potless poor and the benevolent bourgeoisie.
After all, while one of the most historic clubs in European football scrimp and save with short-term loans and out-of-contract veterans, energy-drink funded Leipzig have rocketed to second place in the Bundesliga with just seven years of ‘history’ behind them. Turns out Red Bull really does give you wings.
However, beyond the initial hyperbole, there is a lot more to this game than meets the eye. It is not just a barefaced example of how the modern game values the size of your bank balance over the depth of your trophy cabinet, but an opportunity for Rangers to take inspiration from one of Europe’s most progressive sides.
Yes, Leipzig were plucking Scotland’s Oliver Burke from Nottingham Forest for £13 million, as reported by Sky Sports, while Rangers were convincing washed-up former stars a la Philippe Senderos and Joey Barton to kick-start their careers at Ibrox, but the North German powerhouse’s success is not built on simply throwing money in the direction of ready-made stars.
Instead, Leipzig’s remarkable rise has been spearheaded by the likes of Emil Forsberg, Nabi Keita, Willi Orban, Timo Werner and Marcel Sabitzer; young, hungry talents brought in on the relative cheap with a long-term project in mind. No Robinhos in sight.
In fact, it is not a million miles from Rangers’ own approach. As reported by the Birmingham Mail, Mark Warburton himself has admitted that the Scottish giants were targeting out-of-contract English based youngsters, Jordan Rossiter and Joe Dodoo for example, while exciting homegrown starlets such as Chris Cadden and Matthew Knox have also allegedly attracted attention from the blue half of Glasgow.
Leipzig have figured out that the most effective way to challenge a dominant domestic force is to build from within, developing slowly for long-term gain. A tactic Warburton can claim for himself.
At least the Gers coach can look across the touchline at Ralf Hasenhutl on Sunday and take comfort in knowing that such an approach can have its rewards.
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