STANDARD: We live in times of war, pandemic, inflation, energy crisis. At the same time, the Premier League is reporting a new transfer record, with 1.8 billion euros spent. What comes to mind?
Rangnick: The fact that this gap between professional soccer and the fans who finance the whole thing is widening has been an issue for some time. It's up to the individual clubs and associations to ensure that we remain tangible and close to the spectators. It's not going to happen that we turn the wheel back, even if we spend two hours discussing where soccer might have taken a bit of a wrong turn. The important thing for me as a national coach is: What contribution can we make?
STANDARD: Your first four games as team boss have triggered a small wave of euphoria. Was the fans' and media's satisfaction greater than your own?
Rangnick: Yes, perhaps. I think three of those first four games were really good in terms of performance. I still think we could have had two or three more points. In the last game, it was a combination of four or five important players not being available and the tank being empty. So it's difficult to put your horsepower on the road again in this atmosphere away from home. The fact that the team is proactive, as it was in the home games, and wants to take charge - that's the demand we have for the qualifying games as well. That's the kind of soccer we want to play.
STANDARD: This team manager job is also a new experience for you. Do you have the feeling that you're a bit underchallenged?
Rangnick: No. I'm quite happy that there's time for other things, too, which doesn't mean that the job gets short shrift. We have regular exchanges and use the time to watch games - in the stadium or on video. But of course it's different when you have training every day as a coach or sports director, or like now the end of the transfer season. Those are things I don't miss at the moment, I'll say that honestly.
STANDARD: There's a saying that you learn more from defeats than from victories. Is that true?
Rangnick: I don't think so. As a coach or sports director, it's about being able to develop things, and also to minimize the coincidence factor as much as possible. You have to develop a team in a direction where you can control the game and play a certain type of soccer to create more chances than you allow your opponents. I didn't need six months at Manchester United to do that. It was already clear to me after two weeks where the problems were, what needed to be done to fix them - but the question is whether you have the opportunity to change these things.
STANDARD: If Cristiano Ronaldo were an Austrian, would you call him up?
Rangnick: He is not an Austrian.
STANDARD: There has been a lot of talk in Austria in recent years about a golden generation. Do you see it that way as well?
Rangnick: The future will show that. A golden generation is one that also plays a role in major tournaments. In Belgium, people have been talking about a golden generation for ten years, but they haven't won anything yet.
STANDARD: Do you see, at least on paper, a team that would be capable of much higher things?
Rangnick: There are parts of the team where Austria has above-average players. We have enough good players in the central defensive area, and I also see players with international caliber in central midfield. But there are also positions, such as the full-backs, where we are not so well-staffed.
STANDARD: You recently described Konrad Laimer as the best ball-striker in the world.
Rangnick: I still think so. I even see him ahead of N'Golo Kanté at the moment. But he's a central midfielder, an eighth. I don't see him so much as a six, but as a player who then gains value when you have those switching moments. The preparation for the goal against France was a prime example.
STANDARD: Can you understand the reasons for Martin Hinteregger's resignation?
Rangnick: If a player ends his career at 29 when his club is playing in the Champions League for the first time, then that will have its reasons. We have to respect them. I had an exchange with Martin, and it's crucial that he feels comfortable with the decision. That seems to be the case.
STANDARD: Is there such a thing as perfect soccer, the perfect soccer player?
Rangnick: Football continues to develop, players too. It's the same with a national team: What matters is how players are in shape at the moment of the competition. When the Euro kicks off, it doesn't matter what happened two years ago. You have to develop a tournament team that works. At the 2014 World Cup, Germany became world champions with four center backs in the back four.
Had to google it but yes, I agree. Personally, I don't really buy into the story that he was chased away once he criticized in public. I could be wrong because I know there is a difference in mentality and something that a German would consider as direct and honest would feel like some sort of personal attack in another country. I actually think, we went into the whole work relationship thing without a really thorough plan (would fit into what we saw this summer). We left it open, what consulting would mean, but RR could have changed that if he wanted. And then when ETH was secured, the whole consultancy thing didn't seem like something of big priority anymore for the club. And when ETH and RR talked and it was clear, that their intentions or imaginations of a productive work environment didn't line up, then RR just left for something that seemed more promising to him.