Manchester United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick will manage the side for the final time next week, with his side taking on Crystal Palace in the last game of the season.
Victory over Patrick Vieira’s side would put United on 61 points – their lowest ever total in the Premier League, summing up their disastrous campaign.
Rangnick was named as the temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking in November last year but progress under the German manager has been minuscule. Qualifying for the Champions League is already out of reach and United are now left scrapping for a place in next year’s Europa League.
Rangnick will take up a role as a consultant for the club following his poor stint as interim boss but according to reports, he wants a meaningful role to help Erik ten Hag shape the club.
That’s according to The Times, who add that Rangnick hopes to give Ten Hag a thorough run-through of United’s calamitous 2021/22 season.
As per the report, Rangnick hopes that the consultancy role is meaningful and is already in contact with Ten Hag through a mutual friend, hoping to forge a strong relationship with the Dutchman.
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There are question marks over the influence Rangnick will have at Old Trafford for the length of his two-year role at board level, with the former RB Leipzig chief deciding to accept a job as the Austria national team manager.
The full extent of his job at United and how involved he is remains to be seen but according to The Times, he has developed a ‘feeling’ for the club and has clear ideas about how to restore it.
In a bid to build a relationship with United’s next manager, Rangnick has suggested that the pair talk it out following next Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace.
SN’s verdict…
Although Rangnick’s spell as interim manager has been disastrous, there is an acceptance that much of it has been out of his hands. Many of the problems he’s faced were there before him and most likely will be after as well.
Rangnick’s quality as a chief officer rather than a coach is undeniable and United would do well to capture that, instead of marginalising him.
Clearly, he is well aware of the issues at United and is part of the solution and not the problem.
