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One floor down, Salzburg's players were just chatting away, while Leipzig's Ralf Rangnick took the top spot in the press room. What followed was a thirteen-minute appearance that was more notable than the performance of his team.

Rangnick's three main theses in a nutshell: the threat of being out in the Europa League after the 0: 1 would not be too bad either. Second: In the Austrian league Salzburg has only bunglers as opponents. And last but not least, the most interesting claim after this explosive shower Derby, the "El Dosico" between RB and RB: Without him, without the visionary and pioneer Ralf Rangnick, it would give the Salzburg success in this form not even , Hear hear.

Wickedness, mockery and scorn for Rangnick

A view that Rangnick had on this evening largely exclusive, because instead of large acknowledgments there were of the ranks for him, above all malice, ridicule and mockery. The victory over the large and hated brother club from Germany was a satisfaction for the home fans, in which Leipzig seemed to serve in the past few years unabashed - after all, the Salzburg had in the past six years 16 players to Leipzig. Feeling like a bloody farm team destined for the upstart German Bundesliga, that was the reason for the unrestrained antipathy towards the Leipzig coach and sports director.

The fear of a collusion between the two teams, even a stable order of Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, was, of course, unfounded. The daily newspaper "Kurier" might have warned of a second Gijon, following the shabby cheating game between Germany and Austria at the 1982 World Cup: The shame of Salzburg did not materialize, but both teams went way too far. Salzburg needed one point, Leipzig a victory.

Leipzig needs Salzburger Schützenhilfe

Amazing only that the guests acted for too long a lot too passive, Salzburg biting, poisonous, willing. High earned therefore the winning goal by Fredrik Gulbrandsen a good quarter of an hour before the end of the game.

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Salzburger Banner

In injury time the Salzburg spectators sang: "Without Salzburg you would not be here." Then they unfurled a banner: "After the Europa League Off: Sport Director Rangnick throws his coach out." Will it get this far? Leipzig now have to win against Trondheim at home on the last group match day - and at the same time hope for a victory for the already group-qualified Salzburg in Glasgow's Celtic Park. Otherwise it was with Europe.

Which would astonishingly be tolerable for Rangnick, as he later said. He referred to the example of Hoffenheim, who also failed in the group stage of the Europa League a year ago - and could qualify due to the, so Rangnick, lack of additional burden for the Champions League. And that's exactly what this season's main goal is to be back in the premier class starting in September 2019. Whether you go far there, if you play as on Thursday, is questionable. Unless you bring back five to six Salzburgers.

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Europa League: The league of former champions

Then, on the second thesis, Rangnick said: "Such evenings are festive days for Salzburg." Unlike the Rangnicks Tenor, this is a funny league game where you could go on a leisurely trip to the villages of the Austrian province and then spare yourself for the European Cup nights. "We had a tough game on Saturday in Wolfsburg, while Salzburg won 4-0 in Hartberg." A statement that Salzburg coach Marco Rose with a smile countered: "Fact is, if we are in Vienna, St. Pölten or Hartberg, then the opponent plays with 120 to 150 percent against us." Because of victories in the soft gear and so on.

"European top team"

Rangnick called Salzburg still a "European top team" and counted on this fact itself. "The fact is that with the entry of Mr. Mateschitz a new age has dawned," said Rangnick, "and no later than 2012, when I started here with Christoph Freund, to lead the fortunes, here has a new transfer strategy and style used you seen today. " By the way, Christoph Freund is still in Salzburg, as sports director, Rangnick later mentioned again that it was he who brought him here as a chief scout.

In exactly half a year, on May 29th, the Europa League finale in Baku will rise. Should RB Salzburg get the title there, then that is certainly the main merit of Ralf Rangnick. At least in the opinion of Ralf Rangnick.

RB Salzburg - RB Leipzig 1: 0 (0: 0)
1: 0 Gulbrandsen (74.)
Salzburg: Walke - Lainer, Ramalho, Pongracic, Ulmer - Wolf (87th Daka), Samassekou - Schlager, Junuzovic - Dabbur (90. + 2 Prevljak), Gulbrandsen (76th Minamino)
Leipzig: Mvogo - Mukiele (70th Klostermann), Orban, Upamecano, Saracchi (78th Halstenberg) - Ilsanker - Laimer, Bruma - Cunha, Augustin (62nd Poulsen), Timo Werner
Referee: Orel Grinfeld (Israel)
Spectators: 29,500 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Lainer - Ilsanker (2), Bruma, Cunha