Today at 10:30 a.m., the new ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick will kick off a new era for the Austrian national soccer team with the first training session in Bad Tatzmannsdorf. In yesterday’s first official appearance after the end as interim coach at Manchester United, the German surprised by resigning the part-time job as a consultant for the Premier League club, which had been criticized in Austria. “We mutually agreed to terminate the consultancy contract. I’m very happy about that, I can fully concentrate on my job as team leader.” The 63-year-old has time to explain his plan to the players until Friday’s debut in Croatia in the first of four Nations League games. Rangnick about…
- ZIB 1: Rangnick sees “a lot of potential” in his ÖFB squad
… his yes to the ÖFB: “The first contact by Peter Schöttel (note: ÖFB sports director) was at the beginning of April. I admit, I was surprised. After that, it became more concrete and proved to be the right next step. There is a lot of potential in this squad. Austria is standing 34th in the world rankings. There are countries ahead of us that I don’t know if it has to be like that.” Rangnick said that when he took over as Salzburg’s sporting director in 2012, Austria’s Bundesliga was 19th in UEFA’s five-year rankings and is now eighth. “I don’t see why a similar development shouldn’t be possible with the national team.”
…about the composition of the squad: “The nomination of the national team always has something to do with the current performance. In central defense and in central midfield there are too many really good ones, in other parts of the team there are not so many alternatives, you have to come up with something to let.” Why did he do without veteran Aleksandar Dragovic? “It was not a decision against Drago, but for others.” Striker Marko Arnautovic, on the other hand, is there. “He’s 33 years old. If he still wants to win anything with the national team, we have to hurry.”
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… about the gameplay: “It’s always about the team, the we. We want to be in control, to be proactive, for that we need courage. We have to dare to play like that. It’s also a question of energy: how much do you want something? The performance should be more than the expected sum of the quality of the individual players gives.”
… about the first opponents: “World champion France, vice world champion Croatia, European Championship semi-finalist Denmark – it couldn’t be much more prominent in Europe. We will prepare the team as best we can, give them a clear plan so that we are not only able to pass, but to win every game to win.”
… about the role of David Alaba: “He doesn’t like to play on the left, but prefers to play in the centre. I see him as a central player, I think that’s where he’s most valuable.” Rangnick will clarify in a phone call when Alaba will join the team after the Champions League triumph with Real Madrid. “The celebrations won’t last that long either. We’ll see if he plays in Croatia then.”
… about the expectations: “It’s been a while since Austria stood out with heroic deeds. I see more opportunities than risks with this team. You always have headwind when games aren’t good. But I see plenty of reasons why we can play good games. “
… about the goals: “The Nations League is certainly also a preparation for the European Championship qualification. Willing to win, absolutely wanting to score something – we want to show that. Match plans and tactics are one thing – the players have to be keen to be successful.”
Wimmer moves up
Rangnick’s debut will be on Friday with the Nations League kick-off in Osijek against Croatia. Home games against Denmark (June 6) and France (June 10) follow, before the away game against Denmark (June 13) marks the end of the course.
Philipp Lienhart is absent for the time being due to illness, Patrick Wimmer will join the senior team after the last European Championship qualifier for the U21s in Ried against Finland on Friday.
Source: Nachrichten
