Ahead Man Utd, Liverpool clash, Rangnick explains role in Klopp's success
Rangnick pointed out Liverpool's success under Klopp is in part down to a core of players he identified and signed during his successful career as a coach and sporting director
Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick is unlikely to get any favours when he takes Manchester United to arch-rivals Liverpool on Tuesday – despite claiming credit for the success of Jurgen Klopp's side.
With Liverpool needing a win to go above Manchester City and keep the title heat on Pep Guardiola's side, Klopp and his players will not be in the mood to show United and Rangnick any mercy.
But interim United boss Rangnick pointed out Liverpool's success under Klopp is in part down to a core of players he identified and signed during his successful career as a coach and sporting director.
Rangnick played a key role in the careers of Liverpool stars Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino.
Firmino joined Rangnick at Hoffenheim, Mane, Keita, Konate and Minamino were signed while the German was director of football for the Red Bull franchise, while Matip played under him at Schalke.
Asked for his opinion on United's next opponents, Rangnick, 63, could not resist pointing out how he and his staff scouted and signed several of Klopp's squad, when they were relative unknowns, ultimately providing them with the platform for their high-profile moves to Liverpool.
When asked about Liverpool he said: “They are good, they are extremely good. It's no coincidence that they're as good as they are.
“Jurgen has built that team over the last six-and-a-half years. Six or seven of those players used to be my - or our - players. We signed them for our clubs when nobody knew them and again it's no coincidence that this is probably the club with the highest number of players from our former clubs. Their approach, their style of football, the way they want to play is pretty similar.”
United will have it all to do on Merseyside, against opponents who hammered them 5-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season, one of the results that ultimately did for former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Although their hopes of clinching the fourth spot were revived by victory over Norwich, courtesy of the 60th hat-trick of Cristiano Ronaldo's glittering career and defeats for Arsenal and Tottenham, United face a potential reality check on Tuesday.
