Ralf Rangnick says he has been proven right by Man United, even Erik ten Hag agrees

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Ralf Rangnick’s time as interim manager was nothing short of disastrous but his comments about Man United are interesting to look back on.

After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in 2021, Ralf Rangnick was brought in as an interim manager until the end of the season before he was set to take up an advisory role.

However, Rangnick’s record with the Red Devils was poor with only 11 wins during his 29 games in charge. He ended up leaving the club by mutual consent at the end of the season rather than taking up his role behind the scenes.

While the football played under Rangnick certainly didn’t stand out, his assessment of the club and his no-nonsense attitude to getting things back on track definitely did.

In 2022 after a 4-0 defeat to Liverpool, Rangnick suggested that United needed an “open heart operation” amid concerns over the squad and the structure of the club.

“In medicine you would say that this is an operation of the open heart,” Rangnick said. “If this happens and everyone has realised that this has to happen and if people want to work together then it makes sense and I believe it doesn’t take two or three years to change those things. This can happen within one year.”

Ralf Rangnick insists he was right about Manchester United

Instead of taking up his advisory role at Old Trafford, Rangnick left to become the head coach of Austria – a job where he has excelled.

Speaking after Austria’s 1-1 draw to Slovenia on Friday night, Rangnick was asked about United’s situation and their summer transfer business, and he believes he has been proven right about his “open heart” comments.

In an interview with TV2, Rangnick said: “I probably made that statement when the season was almost over about two years ago.

“It is probably only two or three weeks since Erik ten Hag was asked the same thing. Then he said that I was right in my analysis. I don’t know how many players they have signed since, but it looks like I was right.

“Before I left for Manchester, I had a long and thorough talk with Solskjaer, two hours in fact. But there is no point in going into detail, it was a long time ago and is not exciting.”

Erik ten Hag did agree with Rangnick’s assessment, telling Dutch newspaper AD Sportwereld that he was “absolutely right” to suggest that United needed open heart surgery.

Ineos are heading in the right direction

Ultimately, Rangnick was right to suggest a rebuild. United were in shambles and were paying the price for their lack of direction in the post-Ferguson years.

Years and years of changing managers without buying into a specific style or philosophy left the club with a poorly managed squad that was asked to play differently almost every season.

But there was a notable change this summer in the way that Ineos handled the summer transfer window. Every player signed fits into Ten Hag’s pressing system and already they have made a good impact this season.

There was also a much-needed clearout with 13 players leaving the club this summer. It will still take time to get things right, but Ineos are heading in the right direction.