Austria stars Schlager and Baumgartner rally behind their manager Rangnick after Ronaldo snub
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‘He was successful EVERYWHERE’: Austrian stars Xaver Schlager and Christoph Baumgartner rally behind manager Ralf Rangnick after Cristiano Ronaldo claims the ex-Man United interim boss is ‘not even a coach’ in bombshell interview
- Cristiano Ronaldo pranked Ralf Rangnick in his explosive interview this week
- He claimed the former Manchester United interim boss was “not even a coach”.
- Xaver Schlager and Christoph Baumgartner have defended the Austria manager
- Schlager maintained that Rangnick has been successful wherever he has succeeded
Austrian midfielders Xaver Schlager and Christoph Baumgartner have rushed to defend Ralf Rangnick after their manager was publicly denounced by Cristiano Ronaldo this week.
During Ronaldo’s stellar interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV, in which he outlined the striker’s scathing take on Manchester United, the Portuguese superstar criticized the appointment of former interim boss Rangnick, claiming he was ‘not even a coach’.
Rangnick, who was the sporting director at Lokomotiv Moscow before joining the Red Devils, has been Austria coach since June and is preparing for the World Cup this week.
Austrian star Xaver Schlager (right) defends his manager Ralf Rangnick (left)
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the ex-Man United interim boss was ‘not even a coach’ this week
Defending his coach’s prowess, Red Bull Leipzig star Schlager told the Austrian newspaper The standard“I don’t know Cristiano Ronaldo personally. I have no idea what possessed him there.
“Everyone knows how much influence [Rangnick] had in Austria, at RB Leipzig and also in Salzburg.
He was successful everywhere. He is a great professional who has also changed football a bit.’
Schlager hinted that Ronaldo’s high-press philosophy was difficult to get used to and likely distorted his perception of United’s former interim manager.
Ronaldo was not impressed by United’s decision to hire the former sporting director as manager
The Austrian international Christoph Baumgartner also supported the national coach
“If you do and play something from a young age, it’s probably easier for you,” Schlager said. “Ultimately, you always have to do your best.
It also doesn’t mean that something new is bad. As a footballer you have to be prepared to play everything.’
Baumgartner also defended Rangnick, saying: “He has already proven that he can’t just build clubs, as he did with us at Hoffenheim, Leipzig, Salzburg or Red Bull in general.
He has also been very successful as a coach. That’s where Cristiano Ronaldo’s frustration comes from.’
