Christoph Baumgartner hails Ivorian mega talent Yan Diomande (19) as RB Leipzig near return to Europe | OneFootball

RB Leipzig leading goalscorer Christoph Baumgartner took time to praise match-winner Yan Diomande in great depth after Saturday’s Bundesliga win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Diomande’s 1-0 (his 11th Bundesliga goal of the current season) aided Leipzig immensely in their quest to re-secure Champions League football next season. 

After failing to qualify for any European competition for the first time in the entire (albeit short) top flight history of the club last season, RB Leipzig undertook a massive summer personnel overhaul. The highly intriguing Diomande (19) unquestionably serves as the most successful component of what RB supporters have termed “the restart”. 

Baumgartner, who remained with Leipzig despite plenty of offers from other clubs this past summer, remains the best of the “holdover players”. The 26-year-old Austrian international has delivered 12 league goals and contributed 9 assists for the third placed German Red Bulls.

Baumgartner answered a question about Diomande (11 goals and 7 assists) catching up first.

Christoph Baumgartner on Yan Diomande

“I really don’t care,” Baumgartner said when asked about the ‘healthy statistical competition’ from Diomande during his Sky Germany interview. “But I’m not going to cry if I score a goal either. I just want us back up there where we belong [in the top four of the Bundesliga table].

“He’s an exceptional player with world class potential,” Baumgartner added of a colleague he’s heaped praise on before.“We’ve seen that often enough. He consistently manages to deliver at a high level, which is truly impressive for his young age.“

Baumgartner confident of European return

“It’s crunch time and everyone is aware of that,” Baumgartner said of Leipzig’s quest to punch a new European ticket. “I notice that in training, too. I never doubted that we could make it into the Champions League. When key players leave, new players have to step up and fill the role.

“Incredibly talented young players keep coming through,” Baumgartner continued. “I’ve always known what we’re capable of. Now we’re managing to bring it out. We just need to focus on getting a few more points.“

GGFN | Peter Weis