Austria star mocks Man Utd over Ralf Rangnick decision and aims swipe at England
Rangnick’s Austria side have been one of the biggest success stories at Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
Austria star Andreas Weimann has aimed a dig at Manchester United who are ‘looking worse’ after not giving Ralf Rangnick enough time at Old Trafford.
Rangnick was brought in as interim head coach following United’s decision to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in December 2021.
The club had planned to keep the German on in a consultancy role for two years after his spell in the dugout as an advisor to Erik ten Hag, who took the reins in May 2022.
Those plans were abandoned, however, with Rangnick taking the Austria national team job.
Despite losing their opening game at Euro 2024 to France, Austria have been one of the most impressive sides in the competition thus far, topping their group ahead of Les Blues and Netherlands. They take on Turkey for a place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Rangnick’s time as interim head coach at United was unsuccessful, winning 11 of his 29 games in charge.
But after United finished eighth in the Premier League last season, Austria star Weimann believes his coach is now in a far better position than the Premier League giants.
Rangnick left United in 2022 (Picture: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
‘In Manchester, it didn’t work that well for our coach,’ Weimann said at a press conference on Friday.
‘But I think it’s looking worse for Man United now than it is for the coach. So that’s why even in England, people appreciate him more and more.’
Weimann, who spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom from Bristol City, also aimed a swipe at England following their underwhelming performances in the group stages of the competition.
England avoid the likes of Germany, France, Portugal and Spain on their side of the knockout stage draw, taking on Slovakia in their last 16 match with a semi-final against Austria on the horizon should both sides make it that far.
‘They [the English media] only really care about England’s result,’ Weimann said.
‘They’re not very happy how England have been playing. So yeah, they are happy that they could only play us in the semi-finals if they do well.’
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