RB Leipzig SACK coach Domenico Tedesco hours after the Champions League horror show against Shakhtar Donetsk and just months after the Italian guided them to the club’s first major title
- RB Leipzig were beaten 4-1 at home by Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night
- Coach Domenico Tedesco paid the price for the club announcing his sacking
- Leipzig started the Bundesliga season cautiously with just one of five wins
- Tedesco led Leipzig to success in the DFB Cup at the end of last season
RB Leipzig have sacked coach Domenico Tedesco after they were thrashed in Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League opener.
The Bundesliga side lost 4-1 on home turf on Tuesday night and that result – as well as a disappointing start to the domestic season – proved fatal for Tedesco.
The 36-year-old Italian coach has been in charge since December last year and guided Leipzig to success in the German Cup and the Europa League semi-finals last season, where they lost to Rangers.
RB Leipzig have fired coach Domenico Tedesco after the 4-1 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on the first day of the Champions League
The Bundesliga club was humiliated by the Ukrainian opponent on Tuesday evening
However, they have won just one of their first five Bundesliga games this season and suffered defeats en route to Union Berlin and Eintracht Frankfurt.
And the disastrous start of Tuesday’s European Cup game against the Ukrainian opposition saw Tedesco, along with his assistants Andreas Hinkel and Max Urwantschky, hit the axe.
Leipzig Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff said: “The decision to release Domenico Tedesco was very difficult for us.
“We played a successful second half of the season with Domenico last season and qualified for the Champions League.
“We also won our first major title with the DFB Cup and thus played the most successful season in our young club history.
Italy coach Tedesco sometimes couldn’t stand it when his team conceded four goals
Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi made a terrible mistake giving Shakhtar their opening goal
“We owe him and his coaching team a big thank you for that. Domenico is an excellent coach who will certainly continue to be successful.
“However, after a cautious start to the Bundesliga season with five points from five games, particularly after recent games at Eintracht Frankfurt and at home against Shakhtar Donetsk, we lacked the belief that an immediate turnaround could come with the current set-high.
“We have overall responsibility for RB Leipzig and want to achieve our goals.
“That’s why we came to the conclusion in the overall assessment that we need new impetus.
“We regret that we are now parting ways and would like to expressly thank Domenico Tedesco and his team for the work they have done.
“We wish Domenico all the best for his sporting and private future.”
Tedesco’s dismissal came just months after Leipzig won the German Cup for the first time
After losing on Matchday 1, Leipzig have to catch up in Group F, with defending champions Real Madrid coming next. Celtic complete their group.
Shakhtar’s win in Leipzig was memorable as they became the first Ukrainian side to take part in the Champions League since Russia invaded the country earlier this year.
It featured a howl from goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, who presented the ball and an open net to Marian Shved from 30 yards out after trying to be too clever.
Although Mohamed Simakan equalized for Leipzig in the 12th minute of the second half, they conceded again almost immediately against Shved.
Further goals from Mykhaylo Mudryk and Lassina Traore completed Shakhtar’s win and sealed Tedesco’s fate.
