A biography for Ralf Rangnickhasn’t been written yet.
“Jurgen Klopp, when he arrived, it took him three months to develop his Liverpool side. Thomas Tuchel, when he arrived at Chelsea, from day one, he played with a back three.”
“We hate square passes and back passes. Just having the ball ourselves doesn't make sense.”
“The back four is really just a means to an end for us, because what we actually want to play is extremely pronounced pressing.”
“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 want to try to always attack and outnumber the opposing ball-owner with at least one man, and it is simply important that the players also have a basic structure where they know that every player really has his back covered.”
“Kyiv were the first team I had ever come up against who systematically pressed the ball. That was my football epiphany. I understood that there was a different way of playing.”
“My idea of football has always been about keeping a high tempo, pressing and counter-pressing, something in America they now call 'Ralfball.'”
“The problem is that if we play in a 4-2-2-2, that means that the space behind the two strikers and the two 6s is that you don't have a player, you can only fill that gap by the two 10s. This is the most challenging and sophisticated job in that system.”
“Whenever we speak about football, we know that the major part is in the brain - what do you think? How do you analyse the situation?”
“Jurgen and myself have known each other since 1997. We've always had a good relationship. He called me before his first job as head coach at Mainz. He asked me what kind of money he should be asking for because he didn't have an agent.”
“It's pretty easy in football: you need to have the best possible people, a clear idea of football and stick to that idea and make decisions with that in mind.”
“I believe that video analysis is one of the best methods to help players improve.”
“We have always been thinking from week to week, always focusing on the next opponent. At the end of the day, that's what football is all about.”
“If a player does not want to play for a club like Manchester United, medium or long-term, I don't think it makes sense to convince him to change his mind. This is such a massive club with such fantastic support from the supporters, I don't think anyone in the club should try to convince a player to stay.”
“It's important to develop the team and players and all the other issues will be dealt with at the right moment.”
“I tend to explain to players every two or three weeks why they are not playing and that is an issue in our team and other clubs.”
“We know from the Hoffenheim experience that now that things are working, somebody like myself is needed to ensure that the things that affect the atmosphere around the club don't change.”
“Believe me, my knowledge in geography are good enough, to differentiate between Guinea and Africa.”
“I think Ten Hag is great coach.”
“My football is definitely not a slow waltz!”