As the one-eighth final of the UEFA Europa League is about to be played, Austria's head coach Rangnick expressed his confidence and expectations for his team in a pre-match interview, as well as an in-depth analysis of the upcoming challenges.
First of all, Rangnick expressed his high expectations for his team's ability to reach the Round of 16 and have a chance to hit the historic quarterfinal target. He confessed that it was no coincidence that the Austrian team was able to emerge from the group stage, especially at the top of a strong group. He singled out his eight-year stint in Leipzig and the many players in the squad who have played or are playing for Leipzig as giving him confidence in the team's prospects on home soil. Rangnick hopes that in addition to the Austrian fans, the Leipzig fans will also give their support and encouragement to the team.
Rangnick kept a clear head about the rising expectations of the team. He emphasized that the team is very down-to-earth and no one will be complacent because of the excellent performance in the group stage. In his view, the real battle of the Euros has only just begun, and the knockout mode puts higher demands on the team. He encouraged the players to go into the game with a new attitude and enjoy the tension and excitement of the knockout stage.
When talking about the rival Turkish team, Rangnick gave full respect. He believes that the Turkish team is an opponent not to be underestimated because of its strong ball control and passion in the game. He asked the players to be fully prepared for both, while playing with their energy and unique strengths. He emphasized that the team needs to fight with a burning heart, but at the same time keep a cool head to deal with all the changes in the game.
On the question of how far the team can go, Ronnick said there is no set answer. He believes that the team must take one game at a time and focus on their performance and play in every game. He encouraged his players to put up strong performances, focus on their strengths and believes that by doing this, the team has the potential to go far in their Eurocup journey.
Finally, Rangnick also mentioned his observations of the match between Turkey and the Czech Republic. He thought that the Czechs played very well in certain phases and that the physical confrontation was intense. In particular, he mentioned the effect of red cards on the course of the game and stated that he was not sure if the game would have gone that way if all the players had been on the field. This showed his in-depth study of the game and his full knowledge of the opponents.
