Ralf Rangnick will finally meet new Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag this weekend when he hands over the reins to the Dutchman.
Rangnick has been messaging ten Hag on WhatsApp to give him his inside knowledge on what needs to be done to turn United around next season.
The outgoing United interim boss hopes to meet ten Hag over the weekend or on Monday when the Dutchman will replace him in the Old Trafford hot seat. And the German will tell ten Hag that he will inherit the core of a successful side, despite United’s disappointing season which will see them finish with their lowest Premier League points total.
United have failed to win a trophy for a fifth successive season and have missed out on qualifying for the Champions League. But Rangnick will tell ten Hag that he has enough players to start United’s journey back to the top. “I still strongly believe there is a core of players who are top, well worth and good enough to play for the club and hopefully most of them will still be here,” said Rangnick when asked what positives he could tell his successor.
“Hopefully if the board and Erik bring in the players with the right mentality, I’m positive we will be able to bring this club not just on the right track but back to the top. Maybe it will not happen in one transfer window, but I am positive it can happen in the next two or three.” Rangnick will switch to a consultancy role for the next two years when ten Hag takes over and he says he is looking forward to working with the former Ajax coach.
He has begun building a relationship with him over WhatsApp and is relishing getting to know him in person. “We have contacted each other on WhatsApp,” he said. “Hopefully we will be able to speak in person at the weekend or on Monday. I’m looking forward to speaking to him and I’m sure it will be good to know him in person.”
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Rangnick’s future role at United has yet to be defined by the club and although he is taking over as Austria boss, he sees himself advising the Reds on transfer policy. He claims this was one of the successes during his time coaching in Germany with Hoffenheim, Schalke and RB Leipzig.
He says he was able to identity younger players with potential, develop them and then sell them on for a profit. Rangnick has discussed his ideas with ten Hag and hopes he can play a role in helping to revive United’s fortunes.
“We spoke in detail about all the areas where I could be of help,” he said. “It’s not too difficult to work out where that could be. We showed in the last 15 yeas with Hoffenheim, Schalke and Leipzig that it is possible to identity, develop and sell players. Even though Manchester United is not a selling club, it is important to be able to identify players in the next stage in their development.”
