Monday 29 November 2021
First coach, then another task
Ralf Rangnick is now supposed to tame Ronaldo
The Premier League now has three German coaches in its ranks. Manchester United confirm that Ralf Rangnick will take over the club until the end of the season. Even afterwards it will remain in English football. But he clears the way for the ideal candidate.
Ralf Rangnick is the new coach at the English football champions Manchester United. The club announced this from the Premier League on Monday. “Manchester United are delighted to introduce Ralf Rangnick as interim coach until the end of the season, subject to work permits,” said Man United on the club’s side. Rangnick should train the Red Devils until the end of the season and then work as a consultant at the club for another two years.
“Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football,” said United football director John Murtough. “He was our first choice as a transition coach because of his invaluable leadership quality and technical knowledge, which he brings with him through his almost four decades of experience in management and coaching.”
“I am very excited to come to Manchester United and I am focused on giving the club a successful season,” Rangnick was quoted as saying. “The squad is full of quality and has a great balance of youth and experience. I will dedicate all of my efforts over the next six months to helping these players fulfill their potential, individually but above all as a team.”
The 63-year-old’s commitment had been considered certain for days. Rangnick, who coached RB Leipzig, FC Schalke 04 and Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga, most recently worked as a sports director at Lokomotiv Moscow. The Russian first division team released him prematurely from his contract. An agreement with Man United had previously been reached.
After Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool FC) and Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea FC), Rangnick is the third German team manager in the Premier League. It is unclear whether Rangnick will be sitting on the United bench in the home game against Arsenal on Thursday, as he does not yet have a valid work visa. “I’m looking forward to joining Manchester United and focusing on making this a successful season for the club,” said Rangnick.
Strange speculation before taking office
Rangnick succeeds Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. Man United separated from the Norwegian a week ago on Sunday after a 4-1 disgrace at relegation candidate Watford FC. According to reports, the club officials hope to be able to sign former Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently under contract with Paris St. Germain, from the summer.
As eighth of the table, Manchester United is far behind their own expectations. Last season the club was a finalist in the Europa League. The expected engagement of Ralf Rangnick as coach of the English soccer champions Manchester United had recently led the newspaper “Telegraph” to curious speculations.
“It feels as if Rangnick has influenced the line-up of United’s interim coach Michael Carrick,” wrote the newspaper after the Red Devils 1: 1 (0: 0) at Chelsea, “because Cristian Ronaldo was on the bench and only came for goal scorer Jadon Sancho (which was an odd move). “
United’s interim coach Carrick denied it. “That’s not the case, no,” said the former assistant coach, who moderated the transition to Rangnick after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was eliminated. Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel, who was promoted by Rangnick at the beginning of his career, also disagreed. When asked by a Sky reporter whether it felt like he was playing against a Rangnick team, Tuchel said: “No. Not at all.”