The 33-year-old emphasized his leadership role within the team. “I always have this ‘big brother feeling’ that I’m trying to help the team.” The fact that the 98-times international can break the 100 mark in the coming days as the third ÖFB player affects him according to his own statements little. “It’s been speculated that I’m hot for 100 caps, but that’s not the case. I don’t care if I make 100 international matches or 90.”
His drive is the urge to be successful with the national team. “I still have the attraction to do it. Now it’s a new era with a new coach, the philosophy sounds good. “Then let’s hurry.”
No “Red Bull National Team”
Arnautovic dismissed the theory that he had problems with Rangnick’s pressing ideas. “I do what the coach asks of me. I’m not someone who says: ‘Stop, stop, I’ll do what I want.’” At the same time, the striker emphasized: “Arnautovic will always be Arnautovic.”
He respects the system created by Rangnick. Players with a Red Bull background are “a great asset to the team. But that doesn’t mean that you have to call the national team the Red Bull national team.” Arnautovic also pointed out: “It’s not just all regarding pressing, it’s also regarding how we act with the ball. We are a team that prefers to have the ball rather than chasing it.”
Additional motivation through change of coach
Due to the change of team boss, Arnautovic found additional motivation in the ÖFB selection. “Whenever a new coach comes, everyone is focused. Everyone gives more than they actually have to give. The coach also addressed that, that you don’t exaggerate, that you have to know when to go forward and press.” Expectations before the first games under Rangnick are high. “We’re looking forward to it and will see what the result is.”
Arnautovic was less happy when his friend Aleksandar Dragovic was not nominated. “It hurts me that he’s not there, but life goes on. He will be missed very much.” Arnautovic’s team career, on the other hand, might go on for a long time because there is no end in sight. “I hate to talk regarding age – what is age? If I feel at 34 that I can’t take it anymore, I say stop, but I don’t think that will be the case.” He feels good enough to play all four upcoming Nations League games. “But I’m not the coach.”
Not an ideal time for four games
Nevertheless, according to Arnautovic, the international matches do not come at the best time. The appointments were “brutal,” said the attacker. “It doesn’t matter whether you’ve played 30 or 50 games, following every season you’re mentally tired. Then you join the team and have to play four games. But everyone is in top form and motivated.”
The goalscorer can look back on a successful club season, following all he scored 14 Serie A goals for Bologna. “And please don’t forget the eight pole shots,” he said to the journalists present. “I’m happy, but when I see the statistics of how much bad luck there was, it might have been even more.” Thanks to his performances at Bologna, Arnautovic is said to have attracted interest from AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli, said on transfer speculation but he only said: “No comment.”
