Football News

Rangnick doubles down on Klopp comments; details how Man Utd can land Liverpool blow

Ralf Rangnick tooted his own horn once again after doubling down on comments about Klopp’s signings, and detailed how Man Utd can land a blow on Liverpool on Tuesday night.

The interim Man Utd manager recently made the headlines with his comments on Liverpool’s success. Rangnick was keen to point out that no fewer than six of Liverpool’s first-team squad were either scouted, signed or developed under his tutelage at his plethora of former clubs.

Indeed, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino all have connections with Rangnick.

Mane, Keita, Konate and Minamino were signed by either Leipzig or Salzburg when Rangnick was directing traffic at the Red Bull group.

Matip played under the German at Schalke, while Firmino was brought to Hoffenheim when Rangnick was their manager.

The six have all made an impact at Anfield since signing and Rangnick insisted it’s not a coincidence that Klopp has targeted the same players he previously did elsewhere.

“I didn’t say how much influence I had on those players,” Rangnick initially clarified (via the Manchester Evening News).

“But it’s pretty obvious a big club like Liverpool, one of the best clubs in Europe, have six former players, it’s probably the highest number of players that nobody knew by the time we gave them debuts.

“This has got to do with a similar idea of football. Jurgen and me have known each other for a long time.

“I know how he wants to play. Having six players from former clubs of mine is not a coincidence.”

Rangnick simplifies Liverpool success

Liverpool remain in the mix for an unprecedented quadruple this season. That particular feat has never been achieved by an English side and would surpass United’s famous treble in 1999.

Klopp has masterminded much of Liverpool’s recent success and Rangnick explained why his fellow countryman has been so successful.

Rangnick added: “He is one of the best, if not the best coach. Not only now, but in the last couple of years.

“It is no coincidence what has happened. They brought in the right players and got rid of the right players. That is why they are where they are.”

But while Liverpool are hunting trophies, Man Utd have their own goal in mind. United are pushing to secure fourth spot with the all-important riches the Champions League provides at stake.

After gaining three points on both Tottenham and Arsenal at the weekend, United travel to Anfield on Tuesday night with hopes high of securing an upset win.

Doing so would not only aid United’s top four hopes, but land a critical blow on Liverpool’s quadruple chances.

Explaining what his side must do to compete with the high-flying Reds, Rangnick said: “As I said after the game [Norwich], we need to be more compact.

“We need to find the right balance of what we do in possession of the ball and what we need to do in order to defend our own goal.

“For sure, we need to be more compact, more aggressive, more on the front foot but still make sure we have all the players behind the ball.

“This is what we need to show tomorrow against a team that is probably one of the best – if not the best – in creating moments which they can be dangerous from in and around the box.

“We need to be at our very best defensively but still have a formation and approach to the game that we can be dangerous ourselves.

“Although we might be the underdogs for most people, we still know that if we raise our level, if we play a top performance, then we have a chance to get three points.

“This will be our ambition and goal for tomorrow.”

 

 

The post Rangnick doubles down on Klopp comments; details how Man Utd can land Liverpool blow appeared first on TEAMtalk.