Former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo claiming he 'wasn't even a coach' when he arrived at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo took no prisoners in his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, which is set to air in full on TalkTV on Wednesday and Thursday.
Among those Ronaldo criticised was Rangnick, who was in temporary charge of United during the second half of last season.
The German was tasked with turning results around after United faltered under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He failed to do that, winning just 11 games as United finished sixth with their lowest-ever Premier League points tally.
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Ronaldo told Morgan: "After Ole, they bring in sport director Ralf Rangnick, which is something nobody understands.
"This guy is not even a coach. A big club like Manchester United bringing in a sport directive surprised not only me but all the world.
"If you’re not even a coach, how are you going to be the boss of Manchester United? I’d never even heard of him."
Rangnick was set to stay on as a consultant at United but instead took the Austria national team job.
Austria are not at the World Cup but will face Andorra and Italy in two friendly matches this week.
Obviously, Ronaldo's comments were a hot topic in Rangnick's pre-match press conference on Tuesday. He managed to keep his cards close to his chest.
"I'm the team boss of Austria's national team, it's not my job to judge that. (It's) the job of Manchester United and the sports journalists," the 64-year-old declared per the Mirror.
Before arriving in England, Rangnick was a respected coach and executive who helped Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig to success in Germany.
His methods certainly have believers. Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager was quick to defend his boss earlier on Tuesday.
"I don’t know Cristiano Ronaldo personally. I have no idea what got into him there," he told Austrian publication Der Standard.
"Everyone knows how much influence [Rangnick] had in Austria, at RB Leipzig and also in Salzburg.
"He was successful everywhere. He is a very great professional who has also changed football a bit."
Ronaldo also criticised current United manager Erik ten Hag in his rant, claiming he doesn't 'respect' him.
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ralf Rangnick
Daniel Marland