Ralf Rangnick has credited Manchester United and Erik ten Hag for the role they have played in rebuilding Marcel Sabitzer's confidence after the midfielder helped Austria get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign off to the perfect start.
Sabitzer, who moved to Old Trafford in the final throes of the January transfer window in a loan deal from Bayern Munich, scored twice and grabbed an assist in Austria's emphatic 4-1 win over Azerbaijan on Friday.
And Rangnick, who was appointed as the manager of the Austrian national team back in April shortly before his Manchester United departure was confirmed, believes that Sabitzer has massively benefited from his decision to swap Bayern Munich for the Premier League.
The 64-year-old told Laola1 : “He [Sabitzer] has a lot more confidence than when he was at Bayern. Nobody dropped out in this game, but of course you can say that ‘Sabi’ was the difference player after scoring two goals and preparing one.”
Rangnick's comments come just a few months after he was reportedly forced out of Old Trafford by Ten Hag after the Dutchman was appointed by Ajax. It was initially agreed that Rangnick would transition into a two-year consultancy role after taking charge at United on an interim basis, however, those plans changed at the behest of Ten Hag, who refused to even hold a handover meeting with Rangnick prior to his exit.
Although Rangnick was unable to meet properly with Ten Hag, Sabitzer has certainly benefitted from working with the Manchester United chief after falling out of favour at Bayern Munich just 18 months after signing from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig.
On the eve of Austria's big win over Azerbaijan, he told United club media : “The manager [Ten Hag] does a lot of work. He is a hard worker, very structured and he’s helping us a lot with his game-plans, with training.
Join the debate! Do you think Man Utd should try to sign Sabitzer on a permanent deal in the summer? Let us know here.
“He’s a very good coach, tactical, and, as a guy too, we are enjoying the fact that he is our manager and are looking forward to working together and bringing trophies to Man United.”
Although Sabitzer has impressed while deputising for the injured Christian Eriksen, it remains to be seen if he, Manchester United or Bayern Munich have the appetite to turn the temporary deal into a permanent one.
There was no purchase option or obligation inserted into the deal which means Sabitzer is scheduled to return to Munich at the end of the current campaign.
Prior to his two-goal haul on international duty, Sabitzer opened his Manchester United account with a deft flick in last weekend's dramatic 2-1 victory over Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
