The “oid grumblers” are really annoying. “Disappointing” “incomprehensible”, “funny” – although Ralf Rangnick has not even started his job as Austria’s national soccer coach, the prominent old internationals around Hans Krankl and Peter Pacult see the German as the wrong choice. Rangnick’s inauguration is already burdened, the critics are just waiting for mistakes.
“Right from the start we will see what solutions he has for the Austrian national team. Whether he can do it – we will see everything.”said Krankl, who made no secret of his skepticism at Sky Austria: “Pressing is not Ralf Rangnick’s invention. He will certainly try to introduce it – we will see that.”
Longing for a local
Krankl’s negative attitude towards Rangnick, who will be employed as an interim coach at English record champions Manchester United until the end of the season, is not surprising.
Finally, Austria would have “Century Goalscorer” After the Swiss Marcel Koller and the German Franco Foda, David Alaba and colleagues would like to see a local as the new coach. The fact that an Austrian was in charge eleven years ago rankles Krankl.
“I would have liked it to be Peter Stöger or Andreas Herzog, an Austrian solution”, said the two-time World Cup participant, who became famous with his two World Cup goals in the 3-2 win against Germany in Cordoba, Argentina in 1978. Rangnick therefore got another one from Krankl: “The last stop at Manchester United wasn’t satisfactory, he certainly failed there.”
Peter Pacult settles accounts
Just as clearly, Pacult expressed his criticism of the 63-year-old, who has so far only commented on his commitment via a press release. “It is disappointing and incomprehensible that for the third time in a row it has not become an Austrian”said the former Bundesliga professional Pacult of the Kronen-Zeitung: “We’re kind of the only nation that doesn’t rely on their own coaches.”
However, the Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) has a completely different view. “We are very pleased that in Ralf Rangnick we have been able to recruit an outstanding expert in international football as team boss.”said ÖFB boss Gerhard Milletich after the commitment. “We are all convinced that he is the ideal man and that his vision will advance the national team and the ÖFB.”
Critical Dual Role
But Pacult did not leave good hair on the former sports director of RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig. “Rangnick quarreled with many clubs“said the coach of the Austrian Bundesliga club Austria Klagenfurt, who served the old cliché: “He’s a professor who wants to teach others.”
In addition, Pacult, who was on leave as a coach at RB Leipzig after just one season under the Swabian in 2012 because he missed promotion to the 3rd division, “funny”that Rangnick will continue as a United agent “may be active”. But not only Pacult sees the double function critically. “Even a Ralf Rangnick, whom I value as a specialist, should concentrate on one job”, said the German record player Lothar Matthäus. Former United player Gary Neville takes a similar view: “Where’s the priority?”
Difficult endurance tests at the start of the Nations League
So Rangnick has to prove it to numerous critics when he starts his job at the end of May. Hard tests in the Nations League with games against Croatia, Denmark and France are already waiting at the beginning of June.
After the missed qualification for the World Cup finals in Qatar under Foda, Rangnick should primarily lead the Austrians back to the tournaments. Should the Swabian manage to qualify for the 2024 European Championships in Germany, his contract will be extended until the 2026 World Cup.
Source: sid/red