Austria midfielders Xaver Schlager and Christoph Baumgartner have leapt to the defense of coach Ralf Rangnick.

The German was insulted by Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who stated that he had never heard of Rangnick before last season.

He also implied that Rangnick was not even a coach, as he had been a sporting director at his previous role before taking on the interim United job.

Red Bull Leipzig star Schlager told Austrian newspaper Der Standard: “I don't know Cristiano Ronaldo personally. I have no idea what got into him there.

“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."

Baumgartner added: “He has already proven that he can not only build clubs, as he did with us in Hoffenheim, Leipzig, Salzburg or Red Bull in general.

“He has also had great success as a coach. That's where Cristiano Ronaldo's frustration comes from."