RB Leipzig are in a difficult spell, and the 0-2 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on September 20 only deepened the sense that this club is struggling to find its footing early in the season. Sitting ninth in the Bundesliga table with six points from four games, they are already six points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, and the gap is beginning to feel significant.

Much of the scrutiny has fallen on coach Martin Demichelis, whose position looks increasingly fragile. Reports from Sport Bild describe serious communication problems inside the dressing room, with his team talks requiring simultaneous translation into multiple languages because he speaks neither sufficient German nor English. Players are said to be relaying his instructions to each other after sessions, draining the energy and clarity his messages are meant to carry. Sport director Marcel Schäfer has publicly backed Demichelis, but the expectation of improvement is clear.

The injury situation has made things harder. Assan Ouedraogo, 20, faces surgery on a recurring right shoulder capsule injury and is unlikely to return before the new year. Bundestrainer Jürgen Klopp said he would have picked the midfielder without hesitation. Brajan Gruda then suffered an abdominal strain in the Leverkusen defeat, ruling him out of the international break entirely.

Leipzig host Eintracht Frankfurt on October 10, a match that already carries real weight given where both clubs currently sit in the table.