Rangnick's message on Baumgartner's cell phone on the way there

Suddenly the glasses fell. The celebration after Christoph Baumgartner's 2-1 win was a bit lively.

Several teammates followed the goalscorer on his way to Ralf Rangnick, and the team boss's visual aid went off.

“I think the glasses are still fine. If not, I have two spare glasses with me,” Rangnick said after Austria's 3-1 win over Poland. The man is prepared for all possibilities in all situations.

But why did Baumgartner sprint across the half-court straight towards his coach after his goal without thinking and collapse into his arms?

“There was pressure on me, on the coach, on the whole team, and then it got to me, and I wanted to give something in return, and I wanted to show that I am very grateful,” says the striker.

the date

Of course, this issue has a history. On the one hand, there is something that goes back a long time – in the fall, when the Lower Austria player went through a difficult phase after moving to RB Leipzig, and was often sitting on the bench, Rangnick always gave him his confidence.

The 24-year-old has repaid it time and time again. Especially in the five preparation matches for Euro 2024, where he scored a goal in each match. The scoring record was held by Hans Krankl, who also scored in five international matches.

But Baumgartner was not supposed to become the only scorer in the 1-0 loss to France, as he missed a big chance in the first half.

“You score a goal in five games in a row, and then in the game where it counts you don't score a single goal, but you have a big chance. I doubt that too. But that's football, things don't always go the right way.” You want to imagine it,” he says.

Message on cell phone

From his routine, Rangnick must have noticed that Baomi was perhaps a bit contrite. So he decided to pick up his cell phone during the short bus ride from his residence to the stadium.

“I sent him an emoji on the way here. I do that to other players from time to time. There's an emoji in the Leipzig shirt, a cheering scene, which I sent to him,” he says.

The fact that it was more of a GIF than an emoji is a technical issue that I no longer need to give importance to when she turns 66 soon.

Rangnick concluded the event: “I don't know if this is a good idea when I look at the first half of it.”

In fact, the German Legion did not have the best of days, or as he himself says: “The first half was not what I imagined.”

Individual conversation during the break

So Rangnick engaged his student during the break for a one-on-one conversation and encouraged him.

“I told him: 'Be careful, Baume. You are an important player for us, and we need you at least at your normal level,'” Rangnick says.

“The coach made it clear to him that he trusts me and that he knows that I can make a difference in games like this,” Baumgartner said.

“It gave me a lot of strength. Not only friends, family, nation, but the coach also support me,” he says.

In his usual and beloved midfield position – initially playing mostly as a right-back ten – Baumgartner went one better and then scored.

This is definitely worth more than the glasses.

Individual criticism of the Euro match against Austria and Poland