FC Bayern: Rangnick confirms contact in 2019 and talks about Man United

Coach reveals details

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick has confirmed that he was an issue at Bayern before Hansi Flick was installed in 2019. “There was contact at the time, I can say that much. With Kimmich, Neuer, Müller there were also some players in the team with whom I had a personal relationship,” said the 64-year-old in an interview with “Sport Bild”.

At that time it was about the successor to head coach Niko Kovac. The 51-year-old, who is now responsible for VfL Wolfsburg, was on the sidelines with Munich from July 2018 to November 2019, but had previously come under heavy criticism. “But Kovac stayed in office until November. When Bayern lost 5-1 in Frankfurt (on November 2nd, 2019; ed.), another call came from Munich, but the choice ultimately fell on Hansi Flick. And as you know, he didn’t do so badly,” reveals Rangnick.

Flick, who is now preparing the German national team for the World Cup in Qatar, won the treble of championship, DFB Cup and Champions League with Bayern in 2019/20. At the end of the 2020/21 season, he left the record champions at his own request and returned to the DFB after Joachim Löw retired. Rangnick himself has been traded as a possible national coach in the past and has been in charge of a national team with Austria for the first time since June 2022. Rangnick temporarily coached Manchester United from December 2021 to May 2022. The former Leipzig and Hoffenheim trainer does not regret that commitment at all, although the great success did not materialize and the hoped-for qualification for the Champions League was missed.

Rangnick would always say yes to Manchester United

“There’s no point in questioning that after the fact. When United’s request came, it was difficult for me to justify to myself not to do it. I would make that decision again and again. You can’t say no to Manchester United,” said Rangnick, who was succeeded by Dutchman Erik ten hag. A dossier that he should have prepared for all United players did not exist and was never desired.

“But even without a script, it was clear to everyone that there was a need in many areas. That’s another reason why we had already discussed players like Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Those were names that were realistic. We also talked about Álvaro Morata, Luis Díaz, Dušan Vlahović and (…) Haaland when they were still on the market. But the club decided at the time to rebuild the team under the new coach,” said Rangnick.

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