RB Leipzig's head coach Tedesco sacked after Shakhtar defeat

Just a few months later, however, after Tuesday's stunning 4-1 home loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe's elite club competition, the club has decided his time in charge is over.

Tedesco took over midway through last season and took them from 11th to a fourth-place finish, but despite the addition of striker Timo Werner, they have won just one of their five league games this season and are sitting 11th once again.

They slumped to a 4-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the league last week and their European flop against the Ukrainians only added to Tedesco's woes.

There has been no sign of their fluid, attacking style of play, while at the back they have coughed up eight goals in their last two games.

"It is really hard to find the right words for this after such a game, it's difficult to describe it," Tedesco said after the loss to Shakhtar.

"It kind of reflects much of what we have gone through in the past weeks."

A mistake by keeper Peter Gulacsi gifted Shakhtar the lead, and while Leipzig levelled in the second half the Ukrainians only needed a few seconds to go 2-1 up.

Two more goals late on finished off the Germans, who play Real Madrid next week.

First, though, they face Borussia Dortmund, joint leaders with Freiburg, in the Bundesliga on the weekend. 

It remains to be seen who will replace Tedesco at the helm.