Is RB Leipzig truly a controversial stage for football?
In 17 years the club amassed a strong pedigree, boasting eight Champions League seasons and a 2020 semi‑final, yet many Bundesliga rivals still doubt its place.
Hamburg supporters stormed the Red Bull Arena on Sunday, unfurling a massive banner reading ‘RB: The Enemy of Football’.
For ex‑Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku, who’s just re‑joined Leipzig after three years abroad, the club feels like home.
“Some familiar faces are still here. It’s exactly what I wanted and enjoy,” he says.
“Right now I need to fall in love with football again,” Nkunku explains, weeks after sealing his return on loan from Milan. “Just think about the game, relish the pitch, and do what I love.”
“We didn’t waste a second – we pushed hard for the move,” he adds.
He helped Leipzig rout Hamburg 5‑0, but today’s Nkunku is a changed player. In my view, his Leipzig comeback feels more refreshing than his Chelsea saga, after a season where he collected Bundesliga Player of the Season and German PFA honors.
His six‑year contract fits BlueCo’s plan to lock young talent long‑term, alongside Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, who have become Premier League stand‑outs. Chelsea, meanwhile, trimmed veterans like Mateo Kovacic, César Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kanté, shunning big‑name signings.
He leaves England with six Premier League goals in two seasons and seven Serie A strikes from Milan. Reflecting on his San Siro stint, Nkunku chuckles that the Italian focus on defence never suited him.
“The team seemed intent on not conceding,” he notes. “If you score first, the game becomes oddly tougher – the side that leads often forgets to chase a second goal, staying glued to defence instead of attacking.”
When the Premier League topic arises, he stays measured. Asked if Chelsea gave him enough chances, he replies, “I don’t complain. I could have done more myself.”
“Chelsea wanted me glued to the wing, hugging the touchline for one‑on‑ones. I can do that, but I also need to drift and switch positions,” he explains.
Nkunku speaks after Leipzig’s 4‑1 loss to Como in the Champions League opener. He had earlier blamed his Chelsea spell on “coach issues and differing football philosophies” and a role he disliked.
The Frenchman was first under Mauricio Pochettino, then Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge – the same Maresca who later succeeded Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Maresca is famed for crystal‑clear role expectations, recently commenting on new City signing Iliman Ndiaye: “He often moved the wrong way, but he’ll learn.”
Timing also played a part.
The 28‑year‑old admits injuries in his debut London season locked the team into a setup that left him unable to sway the manager’s selections.
“He runs one system, maybe slotting me into a single role. He preferred another player or shifted me elsewhere. I tried to adapt, but he’s the boss and decides,” he says.
Leipzig’s sport CEO Marcel Schafer, who orchestrated Nkunku’s return, praises the 18‑cap Frenchman’s qualities while acknowledging the gamble of re‑signing a former club star.
“Bringing back a player with such a legacy is risky in Germany – many returnees falter because expectations skyrocket. He was Bundesliga Player of the Year, tore through defences, so fans expect ‘the same’,” Schafer admits.
“I’m not comparing his first spell. I just see a gap we need to fill now. I don’t demand he repeats his Player of the Year form, though I’d love to see it. What will his next season look like for Leipzig?”