The 64-year-old smiled when he happily told how Forsberg strongly contributed to Malmö FF beating Salzburg, where Rangnick was then active, in the qualifiers for the Champions League in 2014.
“He stood up to us,” says Rangnick.
Those matches became decisive for Forsberg’s future. Rangnick was behind Forsberg’s move to German football in January 2015.
— I took Emil to Leipzig. A wonderful transfer, one of the best we’ve done. He is doing his eighth, ninth year at the club. I know what he can do. He is good with the ball. One year (season 2016/2017) he had the most assists in the Bundesliga and that says it all.
Victorious Austrians
The day before the European Championship qualifier against Sweden in Vienna, Rangnick and striker Michael Gregoritsch gave a victorious impression. Perhaps not so strange with 1-1 away to Belgium fresh in mind.
— We will try to win at home. Sweden is a team we want to beat and I think we can do it with the fans behind us. We will try to correct the mistakes we made against Belgium. If we do that, I think we have a good chance to win, says Rangnick.
With the German’s accession in June last year, a winning mentality came that was sometimes missing in Austrian national teams. Rangnick is a perfectionist with high demands. In short – he always sees something that can be improved.
After 1–1 against Belgium, midfielder Christoph Baumgartner highlighted Rangnick’s importance to the national team.
– Maybe it’s a little bit what the national team captain instills in us, that we shouldn’t always be satisfied when we have achieved a good result.
Pushing us to the limit
— I think it’s good for us, it pushes us to the limit of what you have to perform as a professional. We are aware of the quality we have, but also that we can be even better, says Baumgartner to the Austrian news agency APA.
He continues:
— Of course we will lose games again, but if we are brave and trust in what we can do, I am convinced that we can hurt any team in the world. It has to be our attitude, it has to be in our heads. Then each individual can reach their limit and we as a team.
Midfield colleague Xaver Schlager notes that the confidence in the team has grown under Rangnick.
— Our performances in recent years, including at the EC, have been very good. The more often we play well against top teams, the more this self-image arises that we can. Therefore, it is important that we are in the Nations League’s first division and play against good opponents, he tells APA.