RB Leipzig and USA midfielder Tyler Adams: "We're able to outplay opponents"
USA midfielder Tyler Adams feels title-challenging RB Leipzig are a much more versatile outfit in Julian Nagelmann's second season in charge.
With 10 games to go in the Bundesliga, Leipzig are only two points behind defending champions Bayern Munich after impressively adapting to the departure of star striker Timo Werner last summer.
Adams has featured in 20 of their league fixtures so far, and he thinks his team has developed hugely after losing Germany forward Werner, who got 28 Bundesliga goals in the 2019/20 campaign.
"Of course Timo had such a big influence on our team," Adams told reporters ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last 16 second-leg clash with Liverpool.
"The qualities that he brought to the field are clear and evident. The goals that he contributed with, the deep runs that he would make, and the speed that he brought to the team. He gave us a versatile way of playing.
Watch: Adams on Leipzig's lofty goals
"But I think that when Julian first came we were ironing out the details of the philosophy that he wanted to bring to the club.
"I think that this year you're seeing more clearly the versatility that we have in our team now and the different styles of play that we can play depending on the opponent, which I think in the beginning we weren't quite able to do yet.
"When I first came to the club it was more just against the ball [that Leipzig focused on]. This year we've added so much possession-based play to our game and we're able to outplay opponents a lot of times."
The continued progress under Nagelsmann has seen Leipzig enjoy success on three fronts this season. They have only lost three league games and host Bayern on Matchday 27 at the start of April, in a game that could go a long way to deciding who wins the Bundesliga title.
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Last year's Champions League semi-finalists reached the knockout stage of that competition again, and Leipzig are also into the last four of the DFB Cup, where they will face either Werder Bremen or second-tier Jahn Regensburg.
Like the club, Adams has also maintained an upward trajectory since he scored the winning goal against Atletico Madrid in last season's Champions League quarter-final.
The 22-year-old from New York State has become a first-team regular on Nagelsmann's watch, and the US international is also benefitting from serious competition within a successful squad.
"I think that this past year has been very important for my development," said the former New York Red Bulls player who is in his third season with Leipzig.
"Obviously when I came to the club [in January 2019] I picked up an injury and that kept me out for quite a bit of time. So it's taken me longer than I expected to find my form, but I've had to be patient.
"When I was given my opportunity, I was just able to take it. Now playing with confidence is obviously a very important thing, especially in such a quality side. We have so many quality players and on any given day we can change the line-up, change the personnel, and still be effective.
"So the fact that I'm able to have an influence on the team is obviously important, and I want to keep in that good form."
Leipzig's Bundesliga title credentials will come in for another serious test on Sunday, when they are at home to fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt.
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