Ralf Rangnick says training sessions have not been at the level he wanted to see and believes Manchester United need “open-heart surgery” if they are to improve under successor Erik ten Hag.
Placed in interim charge following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s exit in November, the highly-rated German coach has found it difficult to get a consistent tune out of the Red Devils’ stuttering stars.
This period in the Old Trafford dugout has laid bare a number of issues to Rangnick. And he knows a thing or two about building success having overseen the rise of RB Leipzig and sister club Red Bull Salzburg.
And the 63-year-old has not held back about the chasm to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, with the club’s late scramble for Champions League qualification continuing at top-four rivals Arsenal on Saturday.
Rangnick’s short-term focus comes with a long-term appreciation of what is needed for United, who may have made a “good choice” in appointing Ajax boss Ten Hag as permanent manager but still need to do much more.
“I’m pretty convinced that he’s the best possible coach that you could get right now,” the interim manager said.
“All the other things, as sad as it is and as frustrating as it feels right now for everybody involved. And believe me, for me this is extremely, terribly frustrating because in the last 10 years, if not 15 years, we only experience success, myself also as a sporting director and as a football manager.
“But in football you’re not always on the bright side. Right now we’re on the other side.
“But the good thing about what happened, one of the very few good things, is that it’s crystal clear. It’s not that difficult (to see). You don’t even need glasses to analyse and to see where the problems are.
“So, now it’s only about how do we solve them? For me, it’s clear it’s not enough to do some little. Minor amendments, some little issues here and there, some minor cosmetic things.