Rangnick's "co" at the European Championship

The team boss gives David Alaba a free hand

Sabitzer, Alaba and Arnautovic (from left) gave instructions.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The injured David Alaba will be a "non-playing captain" at the EURO in Germany. A column by "Krone" editor Christian Reichel.

You don't see a scene like the one on Saturday just before the break in St. Gallen every day: When referee Maria Caputi gave both teams a short drink break, David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer and Marko Arnautovic rushed to the edge of the pitch and gave their team-mates instructions. Alaba had a lively chat with Christoph Baumgartner, Arnautovic with fellow striker Michael Gregoritsch. "When you have players with so much experience sitting out on the bench, it's great when they give you tips. That's why they were also with us in Switzerland, and David will also support us during the EURO," says "Gregerl", gratefully accepting the feedback.

"He's doing really well"
Injured Alaba in particular tries to get involved regularly from the outside: "He was also there in the dressing room against Serbia, gave us advice before the start of the game and then also at half-time, coached us a bit. What we can and must do better. He's doing a really good job," said midfield turbo Nicolas Seiwald. The team boss is delighted with the commitment of the four-time Champions League winner: "David behaves as he always does, in the interests of the team. When players are substituted or before they come on, he talks to them again. I sometimes only saw it on video afterwards," said Ralf Rangnick.

The team boss has no influence on the role of the 105-time ÖFB team player: "I'm so convinced of David as a captain and as a person that I don't even have to look at what he does. He intuitively does things right. For me, he's a completely normal part of the team and the coaching staff. Does he want to be a coach one day? I don't know," smiled Rangnick.