Man Utd icon Ferdinand explains Rangnick's 'differences' in damning Solskjaer comparison

Posted Wednesday, December 08, 2021 by Express.co.uk

RIO FERDINAND believes that Ralf Rangnick has already started to work his magic at Manchester United.

Rio Ferdinand believes that Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has already improved things at the club following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure last month. Rangnick was appointed by the Red Devils on an interim basis last week and won his first Premier League match in charge of his new team against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

The German coach, who is famed for his previous work with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, will oversee his first Champions League game at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

United will be looking for revenge in their final group stage match against Young Boys, who sensationally won the reverse fixture in Bern back in September.

Ferdinand is fully expecting United to mirror their efforts in Sunday's win over Palace, which saw in-form midfielder Fred grab the only goal of the game with 12 minutes left to play.

When quizzed on what to anticipate from Rangnick's side against Young Boys, he told BT Sport: "I think a continuation of what we've seen against Palace.

"We won't get carried away, it's been one game and maybe a training session. But there was noticable differences and changes to the team, the structure of it, the way they pressed as a team - that's the important point."

Man Utd icon Ferdinand explains Rangnick's 'differences' in damning Solskjaer comparison
Ferdinand has insisted that Rangnick has already improved things at United (Image: GETTY)

"Fred with the winter with his right foot, he's the last person you'd expect to score, Ronaldo tried to header it in on its way in.

"I think Rangnick has come in and you can see the differences in terms of intensity, working from a structure, working from a base.

"He keeps saying he wants to get a good balance between attacking with the ball and without."

Rangnick will be tasked with steadying the ship at United between now and the end of the season, with the club's hierarchy set to appoint a new permanent manager in the summer.

The 63-year-old will then move into a consultancy role for another two years as part of the deal he signed with United earlier this month.

He welcomed two new additions to his backroom team on Tuesday, with Chris Armas and Sascha Lense set to join him in his efforts to get the Red Devils firing on all cylinders once again.

"We have decided to bring in a sports psychologist, with Sascha Lense," Rangnick told reporters at a press conference.

"He's from Germany, a former second division player. I used to work with him for three years at Leipzig, one year in the year that we won promotion from the second to the first division, with myself, and the following two years when Ralph Hasenhuttl was head coach.

"So we know each other since then. He will be introduced to the team as soon as he has got his visa and work permit. I hope we will have him on board tomorrow or at the latest Thursday.

"Chris Armas used to be the assistant coach at New York Red Bulls under Jesse Marsch, that was five years ago when I first met him. Since then, we have met quite frequently.

"Also in my role as head of global for Red Bull, in the last three years he was the head coach for the New York Red Bulls and Toronto in the MLS. He will again hopefully join our team in the next two days."