The subjunctive in itself is not a comforting form. When looking at the table for Group A, this feeling for Jesse Marsch was even stronger. “Had we got a point, we would have had a better chance of making the Europa League. So it is very difficult. We have our backs to the wall, ”said Leipzig's coach after the 2: 3 at Paris Saint Germain on Tuesday evening. Consoling was, if anything, the performance that his team had offered for over 90 minutes against the Paris world selection, in which Neymar was injured. In purely factual terms, however, the good idea degenerates into a pattern without value.

After three defeats at the beginning, RB Leipzig is as good as eliminated from the Champions League. Any length of stay is of a highly theoretical nature. Even third place and the associated continuation in the Europa League is illusory given that they are four points behind Club Bruges. After participating in the semi-finals in 2020 and the round of 16 last season, Leipzig is preparing for a spring without international games. A step backwards for the successful company.

"Football is sometimes not fair," said midfielder Konrad Laimer at the broadcaster DAZN. With this, the Austrian summed up the emotional situation in Leipzig in a few words. That evening in the Prinzenpark in Paris would have been more possible, according to the general opinion of the people of Leipzig. “We played well. We were really good against the ball. We even led in the second half and had everything under control. But then we made a very, very serious mistake, ”said Marsch.

What was meant was Tyler Adams, who, under distress, played the ball directly into Kylian Mbappé's foot. Lionel Messi used his cross to equalize. Adams, of all people, who has so far benefited from the change of coach from Julian Nagelsmann to Jesse Marsch. Under his compatriot, the 22-year-old American has once again gained in value, in almost all important games of this season he was a permanent member of the defensive midfield.

Adams' dropout was exemplary for RB Leipzig's appearances this autumn, especially in the Champions League, individual inadequacies repeatedly decided in favor of the opponents.

“We have to make fewer mistakes.

It doesn't fit against such opponents, ”said Marsch.

In games against Manchester City (3: 6) or Paris, the upheaval that took place in the summer is all the more visible, because teams in this class immediately punish mistakes of any kind.

Leipzig lacks security and automatisms, the team has not yet internalized the requirements of the new trainer enough to be able to survive at the highest level.

The early end in what is probably the most difficult of all preliminary round groups is only the logical consequence.

Marsch made another point that his team was not among the best in the world, and this really got the Leipzig coach upset. The 1-0 of the Parisians by Mbappé was preceded by a foul by Messi. And the penalty that Messi converted to 3-2 was due to a foul by Mohamed Simakan, in which Mbappé dropped too gratefully. When asked about this, Marsch lost his composure. “In the Champions League we have often seen that the top clubs get a lot of advantages from the referees. You have to accept that, it's always like that. I've got it for three years in a row, ”said Leipzig's coach, who had previously trained in Salzburg and who also believed he was at a disadvantage with the Austrians.

Despite all the anger, he didn't want to forget the positive findings. The Leipzig goals by André Silva and Nordi Mukiele were brilliantly played, both goals came after the resurgence of Angeliño, a key figure under Nagelsmann. In his preferred system with a three-way chain, the Spaniard enjoyed some freedom on the offensive. As a pure full-back in the back four of Marsch with more defensive tasks, he was far less effective. In Paris, however, Angeliño, like most of his teammates, showed a strong performance. “We played calmly, were dangerous in set pieces and controlled our opponents,” praised Marsch. That can be built on.

The next game for RB is on Saturday, then Greuther Fürth comes to Leipzig.

A win against the promoted team would ease the situation in the Bundesliga a little.

There, looking at the table for Leipzig is also less fun than in previous years.

After a bumpy start, RB is only eighth.