RB Leipzig are charging into their next Bundesliga battle with the confidence of a team on the rise. Three straight wins, a youthful squad brimming with energy, and a style of play that leaves opponents gasping for air. At the heart of it all? Ridle Baku, the flying full-back who has quickly become one of Leipzig’s most important weapons.
Since joining, Baku has started every competitive game this season, embodying everything coach Ole Werner demands: speed, intensity, and unrelenting effort. Clocked at an eye-watering 34.56 km/h and having registered over 100 sprints already, the Mainz native is proving to be Leipzig’s engine on the right flank. For him, the numbers say it all: “We want to bring energy to the pitch — that’s our DNA,” Baku explained after Tuesday’s training.
This weekend, however, brings an extra twist. Leipzig travel to Wolfsburg, Baku’s former club, where he spent memorable years before making the move east. For the 27-year-old, the return is personal, but the mission is simple: keep Leipzig’s momentum alive. “We want to get our fourth win in a row,” he declared.
What makes Leipzig so dangerous this season isn’t just speed — it’s unity. Baku pointed to the hard-fought 1-0 victory in Mainz as proof of their resilience. “It wasn’t our best performance, but we fought and earned the points. That’s the mentality you need if you want to be at the top.”
With an average squad age of just 24.5 years, Leipzig boast the youngest team in the Bundesliga. Baku, with more than 220 Bundesliga appearances, is embracing his role as one of the leaders. “Sometimes the older players need to give the boys a kick up the backside,” he laughed, before praising the mix of personalities in the squad. “We keep an eye on each other — the balance is perfect.”
He also highlighted new arrivals like Johan Bakayoko, applauding their immediate impact: “Our scouts did a fantastic job. These young guys already play with confidence and energy — it fits perfectly into our style.”
