Driessen Criticizes Austrian National Coach Rangnick: ‘This Affirms My Decision Not to Take Him Seriously’

Valentijn Driessen holds a dim view of Ralf Rangnick, Austria’s national coach. Ahead of the match against the Dutch national team in Berlin on Tuesday evening, Rangnick asserted that the Dutch team possesses individual quality on par with France. For Driessen, this statement only reinforces his decision to not take the seasoned coach seriously.

Speaking on the Kick-Off podcast of De Telegraaf, presenter Pim Sedee quoted Rangnick’s assertion, prompting Driessen’s response: “Rangnick confirms my stance that I don’t take him seriously. I don’t respect him as a coach, nor his methods. Everyone was impressed, but at Manchester United last season, when it mattered, they faltered,” referring to the 2021/22 season. Rangnick had been appointed interim coach in December following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal but failed to secure Champions League qualification, finishing sixth in the Premier League.

Initially slated to step aside for Solskjaer’s permanent successor and continue as an advisor, Rangnick ultimately did not join the Netherlands due to taking on the role of Austria’s national coach, which precluded his Manchester commitments. “Now everyone praises Austria,” Driessen continued. “We’ll see tomorrow (the podcast was recorded Monday night). If that holds true, I’ll retract my words. But you simply can’t take it seriously when you consider France’s superior quality. The clubs these players represent are incomparable to those in the Netherlands,” stated the football chief of the morning paper.

Mike Verweij dismissed Rangnick’s statement as an “old coaching trick” to inflate the opponent’s capabilities. “If they win or draw, the victory looks better. Rangnick can then boast, ‘We beat the Netherlands, just like France.’ But that’s unlikely,” Verweij predicted.