Ole Werner praises Raum and Baumgartner for taking more responsibility

Ole Werner spoke about the leaders of his team in an exclusive interview with Bundesliga in midweek. RB Leipzig’s coach praised David Raum and Christoph Baumgartner for taking extra responsibilities as leaders of the group.

The 38-year-old had to decide on a new captain, and he went with a surprise pick in David Raum. “David (Raum) is a very communicative person, very energetic,” Werner explained his decision.

“We also knew Willi Orbán had been a very good and successful captain here. He continued to lead the team with his character and way of leading by example. That helped us in a time of upheaval. It’s definitely a decisive factor in the guys doing so well this year.”

Baumgartner is another player who contributed a lot to the club this season. The Austrian international not only reached double-digit goals for the first time in his career, but he has also registered 21 direct goal involvements.

“He’s someone who takes on a lot of responsibility both on and off the pitch and grows through that responsibility,” Werner said about the former Hoffenheim attacker. “He was always an excellent Bundesliga player. I think he was maybe in the shadows of others in previous years.

“He’s stepped out of that this season. It may be the effect of his different role, but it’s also through what he’s put into it. He’s done it from the start, even in pre-season when it wasn’t clear what his role would be.”

Werner then singled out the times where Baumgartner’s contribution won RB Leipzig points. “I remember the game at Köln where he scored twice. I remember the home game against Heidenheim after the Bayern defeat to start the season. He was often at his best in moments where the team was struggling. That’s a huge quality.”