How Man Utd’s Ralf Rangnick helped Liverpool towards historic quadruple
The rivalry between the two most successful English clubs borders on hatred at times, but the Reds’ current success has a managerial link.
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has highlighted his own part in the latest success story at rivals Liverpool, stating that the evolution of Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp has been “no coincidence” due to the development of key players.
Liverpool and Man Utd - Klopp and Rangnick
The German in Manchester has an uncertain future as his expensively assembled squad continues to push for the fourth and final Champions League berth in the table, far below where expectations were at the start iof this season. But ahead of the game between the two bitter rivals at Anfield on Tuesday, he has spoken about a number of Liverpool’s players who he helped along the way.
You may also enjoy:
The 63-year old tactician impressed in his roles at RB Leipzig and Salzburg, where he helped to bring through the likes of recent FA Cup heroes Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mané and Naby Keita, as well as Takumi Minamino.
He was also coach at Hoffenheim when they signed Roberto Firmino from Figueirense, despite not having time with him, and he coached Joel Matip at Schalke.
“They are good, they are extremely good. It’s no coincidence that they’re as good as they are,” Rangnick said about Liverpool.
“Jürgen has built that team over the last six and a half years. Six or seven of those players used to be my – or our – players.”
Rangnick pointed to a clear tactical style that made those players the perfect fit for Klopp’s high-tempo game at Liverpool.
“We signed them for our clubs when nobody knew them,” said Rangnick, “and again it’s no coincidence that this is probably the club with the highest number of players from our former clubs.
“Their approach, their style of football, the way they want to play is pretty similar.”
A Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick saved Rangnick’s United from more dropped points against relegation fodder Norwich City on Saturday in the Premier League, and with Spurs and Arsenal failing to win they are back in with a shout of fourth place.
But Rangnick knows that it’s a big step up to get more points on the board when they travel to Liverpool, a team with one trophy in the bag, and still in the hunt for three more.
“Even the reason why the club contacted me in November was the fact we just conceded too many goals too easily,” he said. “We reduced the number of goals conceded, but the way that we defend is still not the standard we need in order to be a top-four club.”