When Marco Rose appeared in front of the press after a Champions League night to forget in the catacombs of the stadium of Manchester City, the coach of Rasenballsport Leipzig walked with his statements between disappointment and purposeful optimism. "It's a mega bitter defeat that no one needs," said Rose after the historic 0-7 (0-3) defeat at City, but added that it was "very important that we don't feel sorry for ourselves or tear ourselves apart now."

Out of the premier class, in the second leg of the round of sixteen by Erling Haaland, who scored five goals, severely punished, the highest bankruptcy in the European Cup: The world of the Saxons seemed extremely dark in rainy Manchester on Tuesday evening, after the hopes had been so great as a result of the 1-1 draw in the first leg. "Every individual has to ask himself what he did wrong and to some extent endure the malice that will rain down on us," said sports director Max Eberl: "But that's also part of football. I like guys who get back up."

RB will have the opportunity to do so on Saturday (15.30 p.m. in the F.A.Z. live ticker for the Bundesliga and Sky) at VfL Bochum. "There is something to this saying 'clean your mouth, continue'," said Eberl: "You don't have much time now and have Bochum on Saturday, which will definitely be a different game." In Bochum, however, it will hardly be possible to make amends for Manchester.

Displeasure with the referee

Rather, Rose and his entourage must ensure that the clear defeat at City leaves no lasting damage to the team and possibly endangers the remaining goals of the season. "We have to push ourselves," said RB playmaker Emil Forsberg: "We are fully focused on the Bundesliga and the cup." In the league, Leipzig is third in the race for the Champions League ranks, on 5 April Borussia Dortmund awaits in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup.

However, Leipzig can no longer afford a game like in Manchester in the decisive phase of the season. In the offensive RB remained almost completely harmless, at the back the Leipzig could not get the unstoppable Haaland under control. "He was always there where the ball went down. You have to congratulate him for having the law of attraction on his side," said Willi Orban. Leipzig's defensive mistakes, however, would also mercilessly exploit less talented Bundesliga strikers.

In addition to the anger over the weak performance, the introduction of referee Slavko Vinčić also caused displeasure at RB. Finally, the 0:1 of Haaland (22.) fell by a highly controversial hand penalty. Previously, the ball had involuntarily jumped slightly to the hand of the national player as a result of an aerial duel between Benjamin Henrichs and City's Rodri – nevertheless, the Slovenian referee pointed to the point according to the video images.

"It was a decision of the Shiri, which is just bad at this level. We were just as bad afterwards, you have to say, but it's bitter. There is a lot at stake. Then having to swallow such a decision does not make it any easier," Orban said. When asked, Orban admitted that the hand rule was no longer comprehensible to the players. "It also makes it difficult for the Shiris. The situation was annoying. The hand rule is grotesque," said the defender.