Consultancy role is where United could really benefit from Rangnick’s expertise

Racing & Football Outlook football writers discuss whether Ralf Rangnick will be a success at Manchester United this season

Ralf Rangnick is going to need time to implement his ideas because he brings a style of football similar to that of Jurgen Klopp and I’m not sure United have the personnel, particularly in the midfield area, to adopt such high-energy pressing.

He also likes to feel in complete control and with the legendary figure of Cristiano Ronaldo in the dressing room, that may not be entirely possible.

That said, the German couldn’t have asked for a much softer schedule over the Christmas period to put his plans in place.

After their clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Thursday, the Red Devils face Crystal Palace, Norwich, Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle and Burnley before the New Year, which are the perfect games to instil some confidence to those who need it most.

JOE CASEY

The juxtaposition at the heart of Rangnick’s appointment is that he is a long-term, project building coach. His previous success has not come overnight and has required significant buy-in from players.

Rangnick’s strength is in creating teams that are more than the sum of their parts, something United arguably haven’t been since Sir Alex Ferguson departed.

If he is given time and the players are invested in his approach he could be successful, but the timings seem rushed given the German is set to take on an advisory role in the summer.

Rangnick is also known for his single-mindedness and clashes with top brass, which could cause issues for the Glazers and Ed Woodward.

All in all, this is the most interesting appointment in the Premier League this season, and as football fans we should appreciate the number of influential and innovative coaches currently working in the English top flight.

GARETH FREEMAN

Bringing Ralf Rangnick in looks to be a great long-term move by Manchester United.

The 63-year-old German has done good things almost everywhere he has been as a coach and then in various executive roles.

Whether or not he is the right man to take charge as manager for the remainder of the season is less clear, as he strikes me more as a big projects-man rather than the type who can bring instant success.

However, United couldn’t be doing much worse as it is anyway – and even if he can’t oversee an improvement in results his spell as the boss should set him up well for his upcoming consultancy role in Manchester.

JAMES MASON

Manchester United is no easy job for Ralf Rangnick and no matter how great his footballing brain is, there is no guarantee he will guide the Red Devils to a top-four finish.

One positive for Rangnick is the soft-looking start he potentially has. United face Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Burnley at home in the league in December, while they face away trips to Norwich, Brentford and Newcastle.

That schedule presents the opportunity to get off on the right foot, but ultimately Rangnick’s consultancy role beyond this season is where the English giants will get the best out of him and that is where he will be better judged.

CHRIS RIVERS

A lot has been made of Ralf Rangnick being the father of the Gegenpress; the rock-and-roll football that’s been such a success for his compatriot Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

However, it’s worth remembering it took Klopp considerable time and money before Liverpool became the masters of Rangnick’s creation.

The Reds finished eighth and without a trophy in Klopp’s first season at Anfield and while Rangnick has inherited a more talented squad than the one which greeted Klopp on Merseyside, expectations at Old Traffford need tempering.

The knowledge that Rangnick’s appointment is just a shortterm solution might not help his cause in getting the United squad to buy into his highenergy approach, either, and getting back into the top four just because Ole’s no longer at the wheel isn’t guaranteed.

AARON ROGAN

It’s hard to see where Rangnick can take United before moving upstairs at the end of the season, but he’s a steady hand at the tiller. He’ll get the Red Devils in the top-four mix and if he settles quickly they could make a run in Europe. However, Rangnick’s real success or failure will come down to how his consultancy role pans out beyond this season. For once United will have a football mind picking the manager and working alongside them to develop the squad.

He fills a role United have left open for almost a decade and his work in that position is where the German’s impact should really be judged.

IAN WILKERSON

This is a fascinating appointment by United but I can see it working only as a long-term arrangement.

Rangnick has gained his reputation as a football theorist, working at a number of clubs that weren’t particularly glamorous when he took over and he didn’t have a glittering playing career, which makes me wonder if he is sexy enough for the United shareholders.

Having said that, the team need someone to introduce some intensity to their play and we saw it at times in their draw at Chelsea on Sunday.

For him to be considered successful this season, you have to think about what success would actually look like for United.

They haven’t got a cat-inhell’s chance of winning the title, which surely has to be the measure for a club of their stature, but Rangnick has to turn them into a team that looks as if they could in the next couple of years.

You cannot install a new philosophy and culture in the space of a few months and United have been searching for short-term solutions since David Moyes was sacked.

It’s going to take time so they may not shine that much this season, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.