Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is running into problems at Manchester United in his second season. It is beginning to look like he could do with a helping hand.
Soon after Erik ten Hag officially took charge at Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick‘s departure was confirmed. The original plan was for Rangnick to act as ‘strategic consultant’, a loosely defined role which would have, in theory, helped to steer the club in the right direction.
Ten Hag’s successful first season included a respectable third placed finish, a trophy win, and another cup final.
This season it has all fallen apart. And there is lots of wistful looking back at the warnings uttered by Ralf Rangnick during his time as interim manager.
Ralf Rangnick got a lot right
Rangnick was never convinced by Marcus Rashford. That looked a poor call last season, but as has been the case through the forward’s career, he is an inconsistent streaky player who has reverted back into the player Rangnick found so frustrating, with no goal output. We will see if that one swings back in the other direction.
He also called on Manchester United to sign two goalscorers. During three subsequent transfer windows, the club have signed only one on a permanent basis. And he is a work in progress, with goals a major problem for this side right now.
Rangnick also called for a thorough investigation into why United pick up so many injuries. This persists as a major issue, with fitness problems the main reason for the team’s struggles in 2023/24 so far.
But the rant Rangnick is remembered best for is his call for ‘open heart surgery’ at Manchester United.
He was making the clear point that spending money on players and appointing a new manager would not change the cycle of failure. Instead major changes were needed behind the scenes.
He was quoted by The Guardian: “It’s not enough to do some minor amendments – cosmetic things. In medicine you would say that this is an operation of the open heart.”
And it was these comments which many believed Rangnick sealed his own fate with.
Ben Foster on Ralf Rangnick
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster says there was no way Manchester United would have kept Rangnick around.
Speaking after the derby defeat, Foster told The United Stand: “It probably shows Man United don’t want to go that way [sporting director]. Too many feathers are going to get ruffled if that guy [Rangnick] stays around the place.”
He added that in the past United have signed players because they have large social media followings or come from certain parts of the globe, bought for commercial reasons, and said that Rangnick would not stand for any of that.
Separately, Erik ten Hag’s recruitment policy has been criticised for focusing too closely on players he knows or has worked with in the past. Having a sporting director would, in theory, give a more well-rounded approach to the market.
Foster is spot on that Rangnick would have ruffled feathers behind the scenes, because he clearly was doing so with his outspoken press conferences during his stint as interim manager.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe overhaul could address issues
There is a cloud of uncertainty over Manchester United right now amid potential investment coming from a minority takeover from Sir Jim Ratcliffe. BBC Sport report his Ineos group want control of football operations.
The Telegraph report this is set to leave chief executive and football director Richard Arnold and John Murtough fighting for their jobs.
Both players are relics of the Ed Woodward era, and are not viewed as the ‘best in class’. Ratcliffe would be expected to bring in his own men, and it is this which provides hope the ‘open heart surgery’ might eventually take place.
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