MANCHESTER United boss Ralf Rangnick has labelled Ralph Hasenhuttl as an “excellent coach” after knowing the Austrian manager as colleagues at Red Bull Leipzig.

The Red Devils gaffer went on to add that what Hasenhuttl has now done with Saints in the Premier League is “just great”, following the progress made so far this campaign.

Rangnick managed the aforementioned German side to Bundesliga promotion during the 2015-16 season, before stepping into a club director role.

The successor to his former post was chosen. Hasenhuttl was now at the helm and took the side to a second-place finish in their first-ever season in the top-flight. As such, a great mutual admiration is now shared.

Daily Echo: Ralph Hasenhuttl as Red Bull Leipzig manager in 2017 (Pic: PA)Ralph Hasenhuttl as Red Bull Leipzig manager in 2017 (Pic: PA)

The pair will go head to head in management in the Premier League for the first time, when Hasenhuttl takes his Saints side to Old Trafford as a seasoned English-league manager.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Rangnick spared time to talk about his former colleague turned foe.

He said: “Well I have known him now for six or seven years and he has developed in that time, it is obvious.

“You can see what he has done with Southampton, he also did a great job at Leipzig finishing second in the first year in the Bundesliga and sixth in the second year. What he has now achieved with Southampton is just great, excellent.”

Daily Echo: Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints side pulled off an historic win midweek at Spurs (Pic: PA)Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints side pulled off an historic win midweek at Spurs (Pic: PA)

Rangnick continued: “Excellent coach and I know his assistant coach, Richard Kitzbichler, very well, I met him in 2012 in Salzburg.

“When Ralph was looking for a new video analyst and assistant coach he contacted me at the time asking about him, doing a great job both of them but we need three points tomorrow.

“This is what it is all about.”

Manchester United go into the match knowing that their results must improve, after dropping a further two points versus bottom-placed Burnley in the midweek round of games.

Daily Echo: Manchester United risk dropping out of the top six if they lose to Saints (Pic: PA)Manchester United risk dropping out of the top six if they lose to Saints (Pic: PA)

For Saints, it is another free hit having already likely matched or exceeded the expected points quota they would have taken from this week with the 3-2 win at Spurs.

“Yes, we are fully aware that this will be a difficult one,” Rangnick added.

“I watched the game at Spurs during the week and they really deserved to win, they tactically played on a very high level.

“This will be a challenge for us but I am sure we will be up for the challenge. We will prepare the team again today for what is on, what we have to do in tomorrow’s game to win the game.

“Now against Southampton we need top performances for the whole game.”