We spoke with Gerald Gossmann, a sports journalist for Wiener Zeitung, who recently published an article on the ongoing situation involving Ralf Rangnick, the Austrian Football Association and Milan.
What demands has Rangnick made to both Milan and the Austrian Football Association?
Rangnick has called on the ÖFB to adopt a more professional approach when it comes to the national team, the staff, team management, and the overall environment. Austria’s football association is dominated by nine regional association presidents—volunteer officials who operate in a very slow-moving manner. Rangnick wants the national team to be managed like a top-tier club, with a high level of expertise and know-how. To that end, his previous salary of one million euros gross per year was doubled.
During his meeting with representatives of AC Milan, he reportedly explained how he works and what he needs to do so—but without making any specific demands.
Can you tell us more about his concerns regarding the level of operational freedom he would have at Milan?
Based on my research, Rangnick likely has concerns that any promises made might not be kept, since the club is in talks with a large number of potential candidates and he apparently cannot gauge the people involved very well. There are rumors that many advisors are vying for influence around Gerry Cardinale, the club owner. But Rangnick needs a clear commitment that his approach will be trusted.
Do you expect him to make a decision before Austria’s opening match at the World Cup?
I’m not sure if he’ll make a decision before the World Cup opener. If he chooses Austria, I think it’s possible. If he decides on Milan, we’ll probably have to wait until after the World Cup. Rangnick likely still has doubts about whether he should continue with Austria after the World Cup. Some stars like Arnautovic, Sabitzer, and Alaba are well over thirty—and there are hardly any top players coming up behind them.
In your view, is it more a case of Rangnick having to give Milan an answer, or Milan having to give Rangnick one?
I think the ball is in Milan’s court, and Rangnick is waiting for them to reach out. He has likely made it clear how he works and what he values. Now it’s up to Milan to decide whether they want to go down this path.
What do you think Rangnick could bring to a club in crisis like Milan?
Rangnick would bring a clear philosophy to the table: high pressing, an intense style of play, an attacking mindset, and quick transitions. He would try to align everything with this style—from the youth academy all the way up to the first team. That would be a major step for AC Milan, one that would require careful consideration. Because Rangnick’s projects are long-term endeavors in which, more often than not, nothing remains the same. He would appoint coaches suited to this style of play, sign players accordingly, and overhaul the youth system.
Could Oliver Glasner be the right man to work alongside him?
Oliver Glasner has proven that he can deliver strong results at the highest level. He won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt and the Conference League with Crystal Palace. At each of his previous clubs, it has usually taken a little time to implement his style of play. Glasner once worked with Ralf Rangnick, and he plays a style of soccer similar to the one the German coach advocates. Nevertheless, as sporting director, Rangnick likes to select the roster himself—which he might interpret as an less-than-ideal approach at AC Milan.
How would you assess Rangnick’s tenure as Austria head coach so far?
Rangnick has many players in Austria whom he already knows and some of whom he trained himself at RB Salzburg. Many of them are well-suited to high-pressing and an intense style of play, such as Konrad Laimer of FC Bayern or Xaver Schlager of RB Leipzig. He was fortunate to have a squad that suited his style, allowing him to achieve success quickly. Under his predecessor, Austria played defensively and passively, and criticism of the team’s style of play emerged within the squad. Under Rangnick, Austria quickly became a dark horse, defeating stronger opponents like Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Austria has developed well and is a tough opponent for many teams.
