Marc Janko on the ÖFB power struggle and Rangnick: "Don’t play!"

The Football Association definitely wanted someone like Rangnick to get involved in the structures. Were those empty words?

Of course, I’m closely following what’s currently going on ÖFB happens, and hope that Team boss Ralf Rangnick after various incidents you don’t lose interest and maybe throw your hat on. I can’t remember any team boss who gave perspective courses for young talents. Rangnick didn’t have to do that. Or someone who trains with children in small towns. He didn’t have to do that either.

With Rangnick’s appointment, the ÖFB wanted the team boss to also get involved in the association’s structures and look at various things. Were those just empty words in the end?

The team recently sent a strong message with the letter and the discussion, which I absolutely welcome. In this way, the players prove that they care about professional conditions in sport, which is also their right. As is often the case with some of the other people in the ÖFB, you don’t get the feeling that they care about sport.

I would just like to point this out from my distance today and also warn you not to wait too long to make concessions to Rangnick. The association has the unique opportunity to transfer itself into the modern era and adapt to the realities of modern football. It would be fatal to miss this perhaps unique opportunity.

Body follows mind

Austria’s team, on the other hand, wants to take advantage of the opportunity in the next two games to finish the Nations League as group winners. The away game in Kazakhstan brings with it challenging conditions due to the time difference and the long flight time. I know this from my time as a legionnaire in Sydney, although it can only be compared to a limited extent. I traveled for up to 24 hours so that I could be with the team for at least a week.

The time difference to Almaty is only four hours, the team flies there, plays and then heads home straight away. Nevertheless, these are hardships for which you have to prepare well in advance.

It is important that the players accept everything mentally well. The head is probably the biggest enemy in this matter. The body basically follows the mind. If you tell yourself that none of this is a problem, then it will work. If you tell yourself that you are tired, you will also be tired. It’s purely a matter of your head.

I am convinced that the national team has enough motivation to bring the Nations League to a positive end. In my opinion, it speaks for the team how they reacted to the temporary hole after the European Championship exit. It has been seen that 80 percent is simply not enough. Our game only works at 100 percent.

Everyone has the immediate goal in mind, I am sure that there will be no more stumbling blocks.