Sports Desk
BERLIN: Shalke 04 head coach Ralf Rangnick predicts exceptional results for the 2020-21 season in German and European football due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will see several unusual results not only in the Bundesliga but all over Europe. I think we are ahead of an exciting season,” the 60-year-old predicted.
He called the latest defeats of Liverpool (7-2) and Manchester United (6-1), aside from Bayern Munich’s loss against Hoffenheim (4-1), the forerunners.
The financial impact of the pandemic on football has been apparent, the former Leipzig coach said.
Most clubs have counted on loan deals instead of buying new players.
Several planned on-loan-transfers deals failed because implementing a buying-option was rejected as the selling clubs demanded an obligation.
Bayern Munich’s transfer activities might serve as an example. The 2020 treble winner claims a loss of up to 100 million euros due to games behind closed doors and decreasing marketing profits.
Other leading clubs in Europe announced similar figures. Manchester United shipwrecked with an 80 million offer for Jadon Sancho as Borussia Dortmund demanded 120.
Clubs like Bayern had to accept a substantial loss in quality after the departures of Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool), Philippe Coutinho (back to Barcelona), and Ivan Perisic (Inter).
The reigning German Champion decided to stick to its successful squad and only go for replacements. “It is striking that Bayern wouldn’t have made transfers like this in normal times,” Rangnick added.
The Bavarians signed 31-year-old Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Paris), Douglas Costa (Juve), Bouna Sarr (Marseille), and Marc Roca (Espanyol) spending only 19 million euros. Reports speak of 19-year-old Tiago Dantas from Benfica having joined Bayern in a late deal to join the amateur squad.
The signings of Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) Sergino Dest (Ajax) failed due to the Blues demand to implement a buying-obligation and Barcelona surpassing Bayern’s 20 million offer.
A few months ago, Bayern had signed Citizen star Leroy Sane for 50 million.
Rangnick said clubs must count on advanced talent development to cushion themselves from the economic effects of the pandemic.
“I hope the crisis makes the clubs to rethink their strategy and increase their efforts to give space for young talents,” he added.
Regarding Bayern’s strategy, he said, the club’s sports director Hasan Salihamidzic might have been surprised by the pandemic’s effects.
German media accused Bayern of having made panic acquisitions while under time pressure to find suitable deals.
Bayern’s club leaders claim to have followed a healthy financial policy. The contracts of vital performers such as Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, and Alphonso Davies have been extended with the case of David Alaba yet to be decided.
Like most media, Rangnick criticized that Bayern’s latest transfers block spaces for the clubs promising youngsters such as Jamal Musiala, Chris Richards, and Joshua Zirkzee.
