How Man Utd 'laughing stock' Rangnick restored reputation with Austria

When Ralf Rangnick parted ways pinch Manchester United a small complete 2 years ago, his banal could hardly person been lower.

The 65-year-old, who was brought successful arsenic interim manager, had been incapable to bring nan required results and performances astatine Old Trafford, while he besides seemed to deficiency nan respect of immoderate of his players - pinch Cristiano Ronaldo saying he ne'er saw him arsenic a boss.

But successful Berlin connected Tuesday, his Austria broadside produced a capacity and consequence against nan Netherlands that not conscionable showed why Rangnick earned nan title nan 'Godfather of nan Gegenpress', but besides proved his existent group of players are correct down him.

"When we person nan shot we person personification connected nan chair who has a very bully input," said skipper Marcel Sabitzer, who scored nan extremity to unafraid nan 3-2 win against nan Dutch that ensured Austria vanished apical of a group that besides contained France.

The midfielder added: "It feels very bully to play successful this squad and I americium really enjoying each time pinch this squad and nan staff. I would for illustration to enactment present a spot longer."

The consequence against nan Dutch was arguably nan reward for Rangnick being afforded nan clip to style this Austria broadside successful his vision.

Results were mixed aft he was appointed head of nan nationalist squad successful April 2022, but complete clip they person produced immoderate awesome displays, notably beating Italy and securing draws pinch Belgium and France anterior to this tournament.

Austria won 3 of their 4 games earlier heading to Germany and, aft an ain extremity condemned them to a nonaccomplishment to France successful their Group D opener, they responded pinch wins against Poland and now nan Netherlands - 1 of nan pre-tournament favourites.

On Tuesday, Rangnick's squad played pinch relentless power and a hunger to triumph backmost nan shot quickly aft losing it. At times, nan Dutch players seemed exhausted successful nan look of their opponents' desire.

"You tin spot a clear improvement since nan coach joined nan team," Sabitzer added.

"Before we were a spot passive against nan shot and we person decidedly changed that.

"We are now very beardown against nan ball, truthful everyone knows erstwhile we suffer nan shot we person to move and hunt down nan ball. That is nan biggest difference."

Tom Middler, big of Austrian shot podcast "The Other Bundesliga", says this Austria broadside is simply a complete other to nan 1 nether Rangnick's predecessor Franco Foda.

“On a fewer memorable occasions, Franco Foda gave his players an earful erstwhile they instinctively tried to move guardant and press, truthful nan existent style couldn't beryllium overmuch much contrasting to nan defensive, cautious Austria of before," he told BBC Sport.

“The players surely look to respect [Rangnick] and they look to beryllium very happy pinch him successful complaint arsenic his shot is overmuch person to what astir players cognize from their clubs."

The statistic besides show that Austria person been 1 of nan astir effective pressing teams astatine Euro 2024.

Opta information connected 'PPDA', which stands for 'opposition passes allowed per protect action', shows that only Germany let their opponents less passes earlier closing them down.

But Austria person besides committed nan astir fouls astatine Euro 2024, pinch 49 successful their 3 matches truthful acold - highlighting nan aggression pinch which they hunt down their opponents.

"I conscionable look astatine Austria and nan measurement they are organised successful and retired of possession," erstwhile Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock said connected BBC Radio 5 live.

"It is very regimented, each azygous subordinate has gone connected to that transportation and knows what is expected of them. It's nan squad corporate and it's outstanding."

Rangnick had a agelong and varied profession arsenic a nine manager, pinch Manchester United nan 13th broadside he had coached, but seldom had longevity.

However, he seems to person recovered nan correct fresh pinch Austria.

He rejected nan chance to return to nine shot earlier this summer's Euros aft being approached by Bayern Munich.

"Ralf Rangnick was almost a laughing banal by nan clip he near Manchester United," said BBC Sport's main shot news newsman Simon Stone.

"But history has been kinder to nan German successful position of his Old Trafford history.

"The 'open bosom surgery' he famously said of, delivering successful nationalist nan harsh appraisal of nan authorities of United he had already spoken of internally, has proved to beryllium almost 100% accurate.

"It should beryllium nary astonishment that he is excelling arsenic an world manager.

"The infrequent world programme suits his analytical measurement of looking astatine nan crippled and gives him clip to tinker pinch his ideas and abstraction to formulate his plans."

Having topped a group containing pre-tournament favourites France and nan Netherlands, Austria arguably request to beryllium taken earnestly arsenic genuine Euro 2024 contenders.

Rangnick, however, played down his side's chances.

"I already said months agone I don't deliberation it is very probable to triumph nan Euros," he said.

"If personification inquire maine if I would wholly norm it retired I'd opportunity it is still not very likely, but nan lads want to spell arsenic acold arsenic imaginable and we will return it measurement by step."

Sabitzer sounded somewhat much upbeat astir Austria's tourney chances.

"The statistic and nan betting likelihood person their ain language, but we person made nan first step," he said.

"It has been a very difficult group, but erstwhile you are successful a knockout strategy you tin person a run.

"We are conscionable focusing connected nan adjacent crippled and we person nan value to hit immoderate opponent."

All eyes will now beryllium connected Austria and conscionable really acold they tin go.