Nagelsmann: "Playing Really Well is Sometimes Less Important"

RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann has prioritized points over aesthetic after his team's 2-0 win over Augsburg on Saturday. The win followed a slow breakdown of a defense that had little interested in playing an attractive game. This left fans to watch slow game that relied on ugly chances to decide the outcome.

"It's not easy to play against an opponent who set themselves up to play long balls and win set pieces," said Nagelsmann. "Augsburg were very, very, hardworking today. You have to be patient and work out how to win by adapting your game. It's not so easy."

Augsburg sat with almost their entire team behind the ball in order to stop the Leipzig offense. Nagelsmann's men passed around the perimeter and found few chances inside the box before being brushed aside by a very compact defense. Augsburg's manager seemed to have little interest in the game moving forward except for the odd counter attack. This led to an increased amount of Leipzig build-up play but few chances at goal.

That changed just before halftime when a cross found the head of Angelino in front of goal. The Spaniard put away his chance and sent Leipzig to the locker room feeling good about their efforts. The second half opened much the same but Leipzig appeared renewed in their ability to score. Substitute Yussuf Poulsen showed his deadly ability by striking a cross one-time to double the lead. Augsburg had no answer and the away team took all three points.

"Playing really well is sometimes less important as long as we are picking up the points to achieve our goals," said Nagelsmann. "Every point is important and we're please to have come away with three today."

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