Duel of German coaches and a chance to go down in history: what is interesting about the Champions League semi-final Leipzig - PSG

Incredible Leipzig performance and amazing Nagelsmann record

Leipzig's entry to the Champions League semi-finals was a real sensation, as the team played in the third Bundesliga six years ago, and the club's history is only 11 years old. 

In addition, the current performance in the main European competition for the bulls is only the second. In 2017, Leipzig made their Champions League debut and finished third in the group, behind Turkish Besiktas and Portuguese Porto.

However, under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, the club achieved amazing results, and he himself, at the age of 33, became the youngest coach in history who managed to lead the team to the Champions League semi-finals.

At the same time, on the way to the semifinals, Leipzig suffered only one defeat: from Lyon in the group stage. As a result, the French team also made it to the four strongest teams in Europe.

In the playoffs, Nagelsmann's men won three victories in three matches over Tottenham and Atlético, and the young German coach was stronger than such masters as Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone. 

At the same time, "Leipzig" under his leadership demonstrates a bright attacking football. The team seeks to put pressure on the opponent in the opponent's half when the ball is lost and raises the line of defense high, which is why it sometimes encounters quick counter-attacks of the opponent.

“You can't foresee what Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are capable of doing, these are top players. Command defense must be used against them. It will be difficult, but we will try to put pressure on PSG and make them work. Football is interesting when both teams want to attack, ”Nagelsmann quotes the official UEFA website.

First Champions League semi-final for PSG in 25 years and lucky Tuchel

PSG are the complete opposite of Leipzig. With the arrival of big money in the club, the Parisians became the hegemon in France, but they could not succeed in the Champions League. The coaches on the bench and the stars on the field changed, but the team did not manage to break through the quarterfinals of the tournament. 

Another German specialist Thomas Tuchel, who worked with Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, managed to remove the "curse", repeating the path of Jurgen Klopp. 

Parisian Tuchel took the lead in 2018 and won six domestic trophies with his charges in two years. But in the Champions League last year, the team was eliminated in the first stage of the playoffs. The Parisians unexpectedly lost on aggregate to Manchester United. Moreover, in the first away game, PSG scored two unanswered goals, but was defeated at home with a score of 1: 3.

However, the club's management did not fire Tuchel and gave him a second chance. The coach took advantage of it and for the first time in 25 years brought PSG to the Champions League semi-finals. Now fans are expecting the next step from him and the team, which will allow the first time to fight for the title. In 1995, the Parisians lost to Milan and stopped one step, but a year later they won the only European trophy in the history of the club - the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

On the way to the semi-finals, PSG looked even more convincing than Leipzig. In nine matches, the team won seven victories with one draw and one defeat. Moreover, at the 1/8 finals stage, Tuchel's team beat Borussia Dortmund (1: 2, 2: 0). 

But the main victory at the moment was won by the Parisians in the quarterfinals of the tournament over Atalanta - 2: 1.

Tuchel's wards were close to leaving the Champions League early yet again. They lost most of the meeting with a minimum score after a goal by Mario Pashalich in the middle of the first half. However, in the 90th minute, Marquinhos restored the status quo, and in the 93rd, substitute Eric Chupo-Moting scored the decisive goal. 

Now PSG will have to fight for reaching the final with a team that strongly resembles Atalanta in their playing style, and Tuchel seems to be ready for Nagelsmann's plan. And the recovered Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria in counterattacks are able to create serious problems for the opponent. 

“We are hungry for success. We want the hard work we have done to be rewarded. Leipzig are pressing high. This is a brave, young and fast team - like Atalanta. We have their own style, they have their own, ”Tuchel stressed.

Three meetings between Nagelsmann and Tuchel and an acquaintance at the Agusburg farm club

Meanwhile, the confrontation between the German coaches is of particular interest. In general, Germany in the Champions League semi-finals will be represented by three specialists at once, because Bayern is headed by Hans-Dieter Flick. 

Nagelsmann is a typical representative of the new wave of coaches from this country. His football career did not work out, and Julian switched early to scouting work, and then, before heading Hoffenheim, worked with the youth teams of the club.

Tuchel is 13 years older, but his career path is somewhat similar. He started working as a coach early and at the age of 36 he became the head of the Bundesliga team Mainz.

The Champions League specialists' meeting will be their fourth. Earlier, Borussia Dortmund Tuchel had three intersections with Nagelsmann's Hoffenheim and won two wins and one draw in these matches. 

But for the first time, the paths of the coaches crossed much earlier. In the 2007/08 season, Thomas worked with the Augsburg farm club, whose colors were defended by 20-year-old defender Nagelsmann.

“Nagelsmann played for me only one season and was often injured. He constantly asked the coaches questions, but at that time it was probably too early to see him as a future coach. He is very attentive to detail. One can easily see his love for tactics and details in preparation for the match, ”Tuchel recalled.

In turn, Nagelsmann admitted that he needed money then, since he was on a footballer's contract, but was injured.

“I had to choose how to pay for my studies, and I took the chance to work in the scouting and analytics division. I could not even think then that I would one day reach the Champions League semifinals and play against Tuchel, ”the young specialist noted. 

A special day for Nkunku and the return of Di Maria

This meeting will be special for the attacking midfielder Christopher Nkunku. The 22-year-old moved to Leipzig last year from PSG. And in the first season I was pleasantly surprised. The Frenchman, with 13 assists, tied for the third place in the list of the best Bundesliga assistants with Thorgan Hazard. 

In the Champions League, Nkunku has not yet managed to score points for performance, but in the match with the former team, he will certainly try to close this gap.

In general, Leipzig is approaching the semifinals without any personnel losses. Yes, the team's top scorer Timo Werner moved to Chelsea in July and refused to finish the season with the old team, nevertheless, the Germans beat Atlético without him. Yussuf Poulsen played at the forefront of the attack in the match with Simeone's team.

Let the Dane failed to score, but he successfully fought for the balls (won three horse martial arts) and connected his partners to the attacks (83.3% of accurate passes).

But PSG in the most important meeting may not be helped by three players at once. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who was forced to ask for a substitution at the end of the match with Atalanta, will definitely not enter the field on Tuesday. The participation in the match of midfielder Marco Verratti and defender Leivin Kurzava is in question.

But Di Maria, who has served a suspension, will return to service. Plus, recovering from Mbappe's damage is gaining shape. In the quarterfinal match, he spent half an hour on the field.