Source: Daily_Mail
Jimmy Collins on Schalke manager Ralf Rangnick
Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick is dreaming of glory in the Champions League after failing to cut it as a player in the Sussex County League.[LNB]Rangnick joined Southwick in the 1979-80 season while studying in England and ended up battered and bruised.[LNB]He suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung in one game and was sidelined for three weeks.[LNB] From Southwick to Schalke: Ralf Rangnick will lead his side against Manchester United[LNB]Rangnick failed to impress Scottish manager Jimmy Collins, who learned his trade in junior football with Lugar Boswell Thistle before moving to Tottenham, Brighton and Wimbledon. [LNB]The young German ended up making only two starts for the club and appearing nine times as a substitute. [LNB]Collins said: 'Ralf was a very nice young man. He was a midfielder but he only made a couple of appearances for Southwick. [LNB]'I used to take him for one-on-one sessions after training, so he could practice trapping the ball. That was one of his weaknesses.[LNB] Concerned: Ralf Rangnick (centre) watches his side lose to Kaiserslautern at the weekend[LNB]'I would also try and improve his running off the ball but I got fed up with that and ended up kicking him. [LNB]'He did not really improve in his time with Southwick but you do not have to be a good player to be a good manager. He was very enthusiastic but I understand he is now seen as a bit eccentric.' [LNB]Schalke host Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tomorrow and Collins wants his former player to get the better of Sir Alex Ferguson. [LNB]'I hope so,' said Collins. 'I am a Liverpool fan, so perhaps Ralf will do me a favour by beating them. [LNB]'I am very pleased for him. It is nice to see him have some success as a coach and to have known him for a short time at Southwick.'[LNB]Defender Benedikt Howedes will be given every possible chance to recover from his stomach strain and face Manchester United.[LNB] The Germany Under-21 star was a goalscorer in Schalke's quarter-final win over Inter Milan and coach Ralf Rangnick knows he will have to reshape his entire starting line-up if Howedes does not make it. [LNB]There was better news about Kyriakos Papadopoulous and Peer Kluge, who have both recovered from minor problems and will be available for the first-leg encounter at the Veltins-Arena. [LNB]Schalke (from): Neuer, Schober, Sarpei, Escudero, Howedes, Plestan, Papadopoulous, Metzelder, Uchida, Hao, Baumjohann, Kluger, Schmitz, Jurado, Diac, Draxier, Matip, Raul, Edu, Charisteas, Farfan. [LNB] The man they call The Professor can stop Ferguson's European dreamHow the Dickens did Schalke do it? Brighton old boy Rangnick eyes gloryIgnore these stars at your peril! Schalke have players to beat UnitedWe are not scared! Schalke issue battle cry ahead of Champions League clashSchalke dare to dream as Gelsenkirchen awaits arrival of favourites United [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson Places: Liverpool, United Kingdom, Germany
