Rangnick's matchday Q&A

The German coach discusses his past UEFA Champions League knockout experiences with MUTV’s Stewart Gardner, reflecting on reaching the semi-finals with Schalke and how lessons can be drawn from that achievement.

Rangnick also calls upon the United supporters to make life difficult for Atletico’s players at Old Trafford, and asks his players to make that as easy as possible for fans in the stands.

Read every word from the boss ahead of one of the biggest nights of our season...

Ralf, first of all, is it a nice selection dilemma for this game as pretty much everyone is fit, it would seem?
“Yes, I’m more than happy about that. There is a small question mark behind Luke Shaw but, apart from that, everybody seems to be available for the game tomorrow.”

At training, it looked like a great mood and spirit after the dramatic win at the weekend…
“Yes, for sure, I mean that’s why it was so important, quite apart from the situation in the table of the Premier League, but it was also very important for tomorrow’s game. I think this game and result, and the way we played, the way we scored, the way we came back after two equalisers. It was a big boost for the team and I’m pretty sure we can show that and present ourselves in a similar shape tomorrow.”

Were there any lessons from the first leg to take into the game?
“Yes, in the first half, we did almost everything wrong. We played into their hands by playing the ball too slow, passing the ball too slow, too many square passes, short passes, so we sent a lot of pressing invitations to their midfield players. This is what we definitely have to avoid tomorrow and, as you said, learn the lessons from the first leg.”

It's a knockout tie with fine margins so what is key on a night like this?
“Well, in the end, obviously it’s about what kind of level of emotions are we going to play, it’s about desire again. In the end, we showed against Tottenham that the desire on our end, it was slightly bigger and higher than Tottenham and that was why we could decide the game for ourselves at the end. Against Atletico, it’s even more important as one of their biggest strengths is the way that they play, their aggressive approach they play and the high level of emotions, which is why we have to be better in this area than them.”

They played on Friday as the Spanish league gave them more time to prepare, should it happen, going forward, for United and the other Champions League teams that we get more time too?
“Well, I would have thought that this is the case. I didn’t know that they allowed them to play a day earlier. Normally, this is fixed by TV companies, broadcast companies. For us, it’s okay. As long as have three days in between. Obviously, it would not have been too bad to play Friday ourselves but, again, it’s not for us that much of a problem. I don’t think it will make any difference for tomorrow’s game.”

The crowd had a big impact on Saturday, you will expect that and want that on Tuesday but how significant is that?
“Very significant. Our supporters are outstanding, amazing, they can always, even more so on international nights, make the difference and create a very special atmosphere. But, in the end, it’s obviously up to us. We have to take the first step and show them how ambitious we are and how ideally we want to qualify for the last eight and if we show that, the fans will be behind the team and will carry us all through the game.”

Schalke weren’t favourites but you took them to the semi-finals of the Champions League so does that show anything can happen in cup competitions?
“One hundred per cent. We had a lot of players missing in the quarter-final with Inter Milan, who had won the triple a year before, but we showed in both games what is possible if you play together and if you are on a high emotional level. It was one of the biggest surprises in that competition, to win there 2-5 and, for me, it’s a 50-50 situation tomorrow, as I said after the game at Atletico. It will be little details that make the difference so we have to be focused and aware of what we have to do, and shouldn’t do, against them. If you have the little details right, and be emotionally on the highest possible level of aggression.”

You mention aggression quite a lot when we talk about games so how important is it in a 50-50 game like this that we are aggressive?
"Especially against a team like this, who come exactly with this kind of approach, they will try to create those moments where it's about physicality. For us, it's about being ready for that and being aware of that,  but also to try to avoid possession of the ball where they can easily get body contact on us. This is what we have to do."

There is no jeopardy of away goal as the rule is not there any more so does that make a difference as it’s the first time we’ve seen it?
“Yeah, it’s a difference obviously but we scored an away goal there. Even with 0-0 we’d be through according to the old rules but, for me, it’s absolutely okay. It’s 0-0 or 1-1, we play at home and we have to make sure that playing at home is an advantage for us," explained Rangnick. "This is what [Spurs boss] Antonio Conte said after the game, it was a very difficult atmosphere. As I said, it's one of the biggest compliments that you can get if an opponent's coach speaks after the game of a difficult atmosphere for them, a special atmosphere.”