While Austrian football legends are upset about Ralf Rangnick’s commitment to the ÖFB, Red Bull Salzburg sports director Christoph Freund speaks of a “coup”.
With Hans Krankl and Peter Pacult two local football legends have been clamoring in the past few days about neo-ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick. “I would have liked it to be Peter Stöger or Andreas Herzog, an Austrian solution,” Krankl added Sky fest. “It’s disappointing and incomprehensible that it wasn’t an Austrian for the third time in a row,” added Pacult.
Unsurprisingly, Red Bull Salzburg sports director Christoph Freund is much more positive about the Rangnick deal. The 44-year-old Austrian with the Bulls on Sunday cheer the double was allowed, is considered a whisperer by ÖFB sports director Peter Schöttel.
“I’m always in contact with Peter. I sent him the phone number, then the ÖFB conducted the conversations,” said Freund im ORF. “Peter asked me if that could be an issue for Ralf, so I said to him: ‘Call him.’ Then they spoke and that developed. In the course of the conversations it became more and more interesting, also for Ralf. In the end they got together.”
Freund: Rangnick is “extremely convinced” of his football
For Freund, the Rangnick commitment is a no-brainer for Austrian football. The still Manchester United coach would “bring a lot of know-how and international experience”, and Rangnick was also a “meticulous worker”.
Freund continues: “He is extremely convinced of his way of playing football. Of course he will also talk to the players and put together the different types of players. Ultimately, the whole thing has to work as a team. You will certainly be able to recognize his handwriting quickly. I think that it’s a great coup for the ÖFB.”
Freund already worked with Rangnick at Red Bull Salzburg, when the neo-team boss brought the inefficient Red Bull project on track.