Benjamin Šeško (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Benjamin Šeško is no longer playing in the center of Leipzig's attack in recent matches. Coach Marco Rose has positioned him lower, and the Slovenian striker is visibly struggling.
Despite being Leipzig’s top scorer in the Champions League with three goals, and among the best scorers in the competition, Benjamin Šeško has been shifted lower in the formation. A while ago, coach Marco Rose altered his system, tightening it up, and now plays with only one striker instead of two.
Lois Openda remains the main striker, while Šeško plays slightly behind him or even on the wing. With more defensive responsibilities and more time spent tracking back, Šeško often runs out of steam when it’s time to finish attacks. This was evident in the recent Bundesliga match against Mainz, where he had two one-on-one situations with the goalkeeper but failed to score.
We saw something similar yesterday during the Champions League match against Liverpool. It was reminiscent of the extra time in the Euro 2024 Round of 16 match against Portugal, where Šeško ran over 14 kilometers and couldn’t muster enough energy for a stronger shot in a one-on-one situation with the Portuguese goalkeeper after running the length of the field.
Marco Rose, whose Leipzig side currently shares the top spot in the Bundesliga with Bayern but still faces tougher challenges ahead, is encountering significant problems in the Champions League. After three matches, Leipzig has zero points, and now it seems that even Šeško is struggling.
“I didn’t like that we lost the ball too quickly, and our play lacked rhythm. We had chances, but at this level, you have to take them,” said Rose, indirectly addressing Šeško as well.
At the moment, Benjamin Šeško is in a rut. It’s quite clear, but for a player his age, this is expected. Fatigue from the packed schedule of matches and national team travel has taken its toll, and there’s no rest in sight. That is, unless Marco Rose decides to give the Slovenian international a break. In the next two weeks, Leipzig faces five matches before the international break!