When in trouble, call upon the old boy

After three consecutive losses, RB Leipzig is under enormous pressure against Union Berlin. As a first consequence, coach Marco Rose announced a change in goalkeeping on Friday.

Instead of the 32-year-old Janis Blaswich, former captain and longtime starting goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi will return to RB Leipzig's goalposts on Sunday. It will be a year his senior Hungarian's first Bundesliga appearance since 1 October 2022. Four days later, he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in the Champions League group stage match against Celtic.

Under-fire coach Marco Rose stressed the goalkeeping change decision wasn't a result of last weekend's five conceded goals at Stuttgart.

"It's not about Janis' performance. We can't blame him. Blaswich played a decent game. Nevertheless, we are making a change because we see the overall situation."

This overall situation includes three defeats in 2024, and in the recent two games against Leverkusen (2-3) and Stuttgart, Blaswich did not convey the same sense of security that he had previously shown in most of his 62 competitive matches for Leipzig. Immediately after Gulacsi's injury, he had proven himself as a reliable substitute, winning the DFB-Pokal and Supercup with RBL at the start of the campaign. He was even called up, albeit not used, by Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann for the international matches against Turkey and Austria in November.

In a conversation on Thursday, Rose and goalkeeper coach Frederik Gossling informed the two keepers of the role swap and explained the decision.

"We have two top goalkeepers on absolutely equal footing and now want to try to set new impulses in that position. We have great confidence in Peter and still in Janis."

Gulacsi's return path was initially delayed after germs were discovered in the operated knee, necessitating a second operation. However, since September, the veteran has been a fixed part of the RBL squad, also playing in the DFB-Pokal matches against Wehen Wiesbaden (3-2) and Wolfsburg (0-1), as well as in the Champions League group stage match against Young Boys (2-1).

For Gulacsi, the Bundesliga comeback is a chance to reclaim the lost starting position and to re-establish himself in Hungary's national team in time for the European Championship. Rose made it clear that he does not want to make a goalkeeper decision before every game now.

"It's important that we don't talk about it every week. If we win the game and Peter catches the balls, there's probably no reason to take him out again."

Whether captain Willi Orban will make his starting lineup comeback on Sunday after a five-month injury layoff, Rose left open. The defender, who has recovered from a torn ligament, was substituted in the final minutes in Stuttgart and is eager to return.

"With Willi, we'll look at the final training and consider what makes sense. He is an important player and has brought himself into good shape in the last 14 days."

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 20

Friday

22:30: (4.00) Heidenheim (4.30) Dortmund (1.78)

Saturday

17:30: (9.00) Darmstadt (5.80) Leverkusen (1.30)

17:30: (2.30) Bochum (3.50) Augsburg (3.25)

17:30: (1.20) Bayern (8.00) M' gladbach (14.0)

17:30: (2.95) Freiburg (3.45) Stuttgart (2.35)

17:30: (2.20) Mainz (3.50) Werder (3.50)

20:30: (3.25) Koln (3.40) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.35)

Sunday

17:30: (2.15) Wolfsburg (3.50) Hoffenheim (3.30)

19:30: (1.42) RB Leipzig (4.60) Union Berlin (7.50)

***odds are subject to change***