Ralf Rangnick confirms he had talks with Milan, which were interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. ‘I need to have a certain influence’ to take the role.
He is currently the head of relations and scouting for the various Red Bull franchises in New York, Salzburg and Leipzig, having previously been the coach of RB Leipzig.
Ralf Rangnick confirms he had talks with Milan, which were interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. ‘I need to have a certain influence’ to take the role.
He is currently the head of relations and scouting for the various Red Bull franchises in New York, Salzburg and Leipzig, having previously been the coach of RB Leipzig.
“There was an approach from Milan, but with the coronavirus outbreak, there were other things to consider, including whether Ralf Rangnick was the right man for them and vice versa,” he told Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
It has been said he will be offered a unique role in Italian football, essentially acting as both coach and director of sport, to mould Milan in his own image.
“I am not interested in the financial aspects. For me, it’s that I need to have a certain influence, which is not the same as power, although in some situations you need power to get things moving.
“I remember my first days at Leipzig: there were no physiotherapists, the doctors had left and no coach. The season was meant to start in two weeks. We needed quick decisions, so I hired Alex Zorniger, brought in two new physios and two doctors in five hours. Alexander Sekora recommended the rest.
“If I had to think theoretically about going to work elsewhere, I’d have to be given the opportunity to make quick decisions like that.”
RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner is expected to move on this summer too, with Liverpool, Milan, Inter and Juventus among those interested.
“I know Timo well and he has to continue improving,” added Rangnick.
“I’d be happy if he remained. If he did leave, Timo would have to evaluate if he’d have the chance to play with as much regularity as he does here.”