"That's our goal" – RB Leipzig must be ready to pounce on Bundesliga title if Bayern falter, says CEO Tatjana Haenni

With four games still left to play of the season, Bayern Munich secured their 35th Bundesliga title in comfortable fashion at the weekend, beating VfB Stuttgart 4-2 in front of the home crowd at the Allianz Arena.It's the 13th championship in the last 14 seasons for Bayern, underlining their sustained superiority in the Bundesliga. Bayer Leverkusen have been the only side to break their run in that period, winning the title in the 2023/24 campaign.AdvertisementBut there have been other seasons when rivals could have pounced on the title – most notably in the 2022/23 season, when Borussia Dortmund famously dropped the title on the final matchday after a 2-2 draw against Mainz.At some point, the opportunity to take advantage of a less convincing Bayern Munich campaign will likely come again – and at that point, RB Leipzig want to be ready to strike. Club CEO Tatjana Haenni underlined this ambition during a media round attended by Bulinews.com.“Bayern have had an amazing season, have an unbelievable number of points, and have been ahead of everybody. But you have to be ready when Bayern are not having their best season, just as Leverkusen were a couple of years ago. Then you have a chance of winning the championship," Tatjana Haenni, RB Leipzig's CEO since January, told Bulinews.com.“That's our goal. We want to work on our DNA and do our homework, so that we're ready to jump in and win that championship if Bayern aren't at their best," she added.Advertisement"We want to be in the top four in Germany regularly, and ideally in the top 10 internationally. If we get there, we might be able to win a championship, which we all know is difficult. We have to be there if there is an opportunity.”Photo: RB LeipzigLeipzig’s crucial Champions League missionCurrently sitting third in the Bundesliga table, RB Leipzig's full focus for now is on securing a top-four finish.After qualifying for Europe's elite club tournament six times in a row, Die Roten Bullen missed out on the Champions League after an underwhelming 2024/25 campaign – and Haenni is determined to return to the big stage.Advertisement“This is a clearly stated objective for us. We want to qualify for the Champions League. Right now, it looks positive, but the season is not over yet. As long as it’s not done mathematically, we just keep on working to try to win every single game,” she said.She warned that failing to qualify could have “massive” implications, potentially forcing the club into significant player sales this summer.“The financial difference between qualifying for the Champions League and not is incredible. This has an impact on our business model and how much we can spend," Haenni explained. "Not qualifying would probably mean we have to be tough on selling and transferring players during the summer window.”AdvertisementAs of now, though, it doesn't look like it will come to that, with Leipzig in third place and five points clear of fifth-placed Hoffenheim with four games left.Diomande in demandOne of the standout stories of RB Leipzig's season has been the meteoric rise of 19-year-old winger Yan DiomandeWhile decision-makers at RB Leipzig have previously made it clear that the plan is to keep the 19-year-old Ivorian winger beyond the summer, speculation continues to swirl, with European top clubs monitoring his progress.During the interview, Haenni praised the youngster, describing him as “one of the greatest players in the Bundesliga”, but declined to comment on transfer plans.Advertisement“Marcel Schäfer (managing director for sport) is in charge of sporting matters, and this will go through his hands together with our head coach, Ole Werner," she said."But we all know he’s an amazing player. You never know what happens in football. We’re going to finish our season, there will be a World Cup, and everything else is really hard to predict or talk about.”Having scored in two consecutive games, Diomande could be key once again as RB Leipzig continue their push for a top-four finish against 1. FC Union Berlin this Friday.