Berlin (AFP) – Julian Nagelsmann says RB Leipzig will no longer fly back immediately from future Champions League away games to prevent him and his players suffering from disturbed sleep patterns which feel “like jet-lag”.
The 32-year-old was unimpressed after a delay leaving London following Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16, first-leg, tie meant the Leipzig squad endured a short night.
“Being in bed at 5am is crap for the players,” said Nagelsmann.
“Your sleeping pattern is in the bin for a day and a half — it’s like jet lag.”
Flying home directly after European games is standard practise for German clubs in the Champions League.
However, Nagelsmann will change that if Leipzig successfully negotiate the second leg against last season’s finalists Spurs to reach the quarter-finals.
“I won’t do it like that anymore. We’ll have to find another solution — either stay longer or take a different flight,” he added.
Nagelsmann was in the office early on Thursday morning despite little sleep.
“The coaching team had to look at the next opponent and maybe review the Tottenham game. I was in the office at 8.30am. You don’t sleep much,” he said.
Leipzig are second in the Bundesliga, a point behind leaders Bayern Munich and must be wide awake for Saturday night’s away match at mis-firing Schalke.
The Royal Blues have dropped out of the title race, struggling to score in recent league games, and lag 10 points behind Bayern.
Schalke romped to a shock 3-1 victory at Leipzig in September, but have managed one goal in their last five league games.
“At the moment we lack the necessary drive and finishing at the front,” said Schalke midfielder Alessandro Schoepf.
Schalke are set to welcome back midfield dynamo Suat Serdar from an ankle injury while Nagelsmann is expected to rotate his squad.
