Adams on coming fixture: "I have to be prepared to operate in multiple roles"
News that Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer will once again miss out on Leipzig's weekend clash should clear the way for 21-year-old Tyler Adams to return to the starting XI.
The US international looked fairly average in starts during the 2020/21 Bundesliga's first and second rounds. After sitting out the third round with back problems, the New Yorker offered some candid thoughts on his play thus far this season.
The scorer of Leipzig's memorable go ahead goal in the August 2019/20 delayed UEFA Champion's League quarterfinals maintains that he prefers to play in defensive midfield. "As always, the six is my favorite position," Adams recently told football magazine Kicker.
The US international looked fairly average in starts during the 2020/21 Bundesliga's first and second rounds. After sitting out the third round with back problems, the New Yorker offered some candid thoughts on his play thus far this season.
Trainer Julian Nagelsmann, a quintessential tactical tinkerer, has nevertheless used Adams in a variety of different roles. The American spent a lot of time as a forward eight and a right fullback last season. The Leipzig coach stashed him in central defense during the Pokal round.
Adams stats in the young season have not been especially befitting of a six. He's only averaged 66 touches per 90 minutes played. Moreover, a duel success rate of 36.8 percent surely has Nagelsmann questioning whether he should once again deploy the American on a centralized rearward axis.
"I have to improve my positional play when we have the ball," Adams told the magazine, "I've already improved considerably in that area, but I must continue to work on myself."
Adams acknowledged that he must be prepared to rise to whatever tactical role Nagelsmann draws up for him in the coming fixture. "In our team, many players must play multiple positions," he noted, "I have to be prepared to operate in multiple roles."
Though the season remains in its nascent stages, the coming RB match against FC Augsburg constitutes a "top-of-table clash".
Both clubs sit atop the Bundesliga with seven points from three fixtures. Kickoff comes Saturday at 15:30.