USA international Tyler Adams says RB Leipzig are “a real top club now” as he prepares to help Julian Nagelsmann’s side continue their tilt for a first piece of major silverware in the second half of the season.

And with Leipzig top of the Bundesliga standings, in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages and the DFB Cup last 16, it is hard to disagree with the New York native.

Adams, who arrived in the Bundesliga from boyhood club New York Red Bulls in January 2019, had mixed fortunes during his time in Germany so far. The 20-year-old quickly established himself as an indispensable first-team player, but has also missed large chunks of action through injury and made only his second appearance of 2019/20 in his side’s 3-1 win over Union Berlin last week.

Watch: Adams sets title target

Now fit and firing once more, Adams has set his sights on helping Nagelsmann's charges continue their swift ascent into the global footballing elite.

“I’ve never regretted the move to Leipzig,” Adams told the club’s in-house TV channel. “For my career I can’t think of a better place I could be. Not only for development, but now Leipzig is turning into a team that’s a top club in the world.

“As long as we continue our rise – whether it’s competing for the Bundesliga every year or competing for the DFB Cup – we’re a real top club now and I’m excited to be here and develop.”

As impressive as Leipzig’s ability to compete has been in recent years, it shouldn’t be forgotten that they were only founded in 2009.

Watch: How Nagelsmann has improved Leipzig this season

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After quickly rising through Germany’s lower divisions and earning promotion to the Bundesliga in time for the 2016/17 campaign, they have made steady, tangible progress in stages.

Die Roten Bullen regularly qualify for European competition, they played in a first major final – the 2019 DFB Cup they ended up losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich - and reached the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time ever this season.

Featuring in that particular competition for the first time is one of Adams’ personal aims for 2019/20 after a persistent groin complaint forced him to miss the entirety of the group stage.

Adams has gone straight back into the Leipzig first team after recovering from injury. - KH via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Karina Hessland

And he views round of 16 opponents Tottenham Hotspur as potentially being the next stepping stone in Leipzig’s relentless forward charge: “I think Tottenham is a good draw for us. They’ve been playing pretty well with their new manager. It’s a big challenge for us. We wanted a team that we have an opportunity to beat, but they also have a lot of history, so we’re all really excited.”

As for his own upward career trajectory the Leipzig No.14 is eager for more: “I like to work hard every day and try to get better. For me the biggest thing is about being humble and just going about your work every single day and trying to get better.”

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