Friday, December 03, 2021
Clear announcements about CR7 and Haaland
Rangnick creates hope and laughter
Ralf Rangnick is now also the official coach of Manchester United – and when he takes office he has to answer the really big questions. It’s about Ronaldo and Haaland. The former Bundesliga coach delivers a strong performance.
Ronaldo instead of Haaland. At his first press conference as coach of Manchester United, coach Ralf Rangnick raved about Cristiano Ronaldo. “At the age of 36 he’s still an incredible top professional,” said Rangnick at his presentation at Old Trafford. “I’ve never seen a player his age who is so physically fit.” The media had speculated that Ronaldo could have problems with Rangnick’s style of play.
“You always have to adapt your style and your football idea to the existing players,” stated Rangnick, “not the other way around.” A few years ago he described the Portuguese as “too old” in an interview. Now it sounded very different. “He’s still a player who can easily make all the difference,” said the 63-year-old. Part of the truth, however, is that the judgment has been taken out of context. “That is not our philosophy, they are both too old and too expensive,” said Rangnick at the time, defending his Art Nouveau style in transfers for the then new Bundesliga club.
Haaland clause? “Nonsense”
Rangnick had the laughs on his side at his first media appointment. When asked about an alleged “Haaland clause” in his contract, which should bring him ten million euros if he brings the Norwegian striker from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester, Rangnick joked. “Let me have a look,” he said, jokingly leafing through his papers. “Ten million for Erling Haaland, ten million for Kylian Mbappé, ten million for Robert Lewandowski and ten million for Joshua Kimmich.” Laughter in the press room. Of course that was “nonsense”, said the former coach of RB Leipzig, Schalke and Hannover 96. Man United already have a strong offensive.
“We haven’t talked about new players. Now it’s about getting to know the current squad very well. The squad is definitely not too small.” After Christmas one could talk about possible accesses. Rangnick was skeptical, however: “Winter is not the time for sustainable transfers.” Sustainability, continuity, balance – these are things that the Anglophile Swabian wants to convey to the Mancunians “step by step”, first as an interim trainer until the end of the season, then as a consultant for two years from the summer.
“Have to be realistic at the moment”
Rangnick plans for the long term. In terms of short-term successes, he sounded cautious given that he was twelve points behind the top and ten in third place. “At the moment we have to be realistic, the difference between us and the top three is big. But let’s see.”
Since leaving coaching legend Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, Man United has not won a championship and few trophies. “It’s not unusual for a club to find a new path after such a long and successful era,” said Rangnick. “In a perfect world we will soon be playing for titles. That is the goal of the club.” Pep Guardiola with Manchester City, Jürgen Klopp with Liverpool and Thomas Tuchel with Chelsea are a bit ahead of him.
He agrees with the United board that there should be fewer coach changes in the future. The fact that he will be on the sidelines even beyond the summer is apparently not completely ruled out. “We never talked about what would happen in the summer,” said Rangnick, who will make his sideline debut on Sunday. Then Manchester United welcomes Crystal Palace to Old Trafford.