When Ralf Rangnick was hired by Manchester United to be their interim manager, some eyebrows were raised amongst the fanbase.
The German has only managed for a limited time over the past decade, and even less time at a top-level European league. However, with United deciding to utilise Rangnick's biggest strength come the summer, with a backroom role, many fans were happier with that development.
Rangnick had enjoyed fine success acting as the Red Bull project's head of Global Football, along with other roles, overseeing RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig. Under his leadership, the project had grown into one of the most admired in world football, lauded for its talent identification, acquisition and development.
READ MORE: Austrian FA deny Rangnick approach
But, almost six months on from his appointment as interim manager, Rangnick's future consultancy role is no clearer, leading to fan speculation. When a report in the Daily Mail this week claimed Rangnick would only be required to work six days a month despite being considered a supposedly key decision-making cog, fans were unhappy.
The report added that although Rangnick has lent his opinion on how United's next manager should be, he is not directly involved in the process to identify and appoint his successor at Old Trafford. John Murtough and Darren Fletcher are taking the lead.
As the club's official Director of Football, many fans were fine with Murtough heading the talks but Fletcher's involvement over Rangnick has seen those eyebrows again raise. The midfielder-turned-technical director is inexperienced and will need to learn on the job if he is to be a long-term success at the club, prompting fear among some fans over his suitability to oversee what is the biggest decision the club will make
They made their thoughts clear about the matter on Twitter:
One of the major failures of United with their handling of the Rangnick situation is the lack of communication: clarification prevents speculation. But, as Rangnick enters the run-in of a season that is likely to prove the most disappointing recent years, fans are starting to ask questions.
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