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EVERY WORD FROM RANGNICK'S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE
by
Lars Magnus Igland Røys
03 December 202114:30
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Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick held his first press conference since joining the club ahead of our Premier League clash with Crystal Palace this weekend.
The German spent over half an hour speaking to journalists for his first pre-match press conference as Reds boss as the media was gathered at Old Trafford to quiz the 63-year-old ahead of his first task as the man in charge at United, a contest with the Eagles at Old Trafford on Sunday.
In the media briefing, Rangnick spoke about his ambitions at the club, why the move to United was correct for him, his conversations with Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, transfer speculation, what he knows about the history of the club and more, in what was a truly fascinating chat.
Here's everything said during Ralf's first press conference at United..
RANGNICK: THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE ADCARD
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"I would firstly like to say hello to everybody. To be honest, in my career, it’s probably the earliest press conference in my life but due to the fact that we have another game on Sunday, and the fact I only have one training session with the team, there was no other option. I am very much looking forward to the next days, weeks and months. Once again, thanks again for coming here and spending the time with us.’’
Roughly this time last year, Chelsea contacted and spoke to you. What can you achieve here in six months and what is your vision for Manchester United?
"When Chelsea contacted me back in February, they only spoke about the option to become interim manager for four months, without any perspective to work in the long term together. Here now, we are talking about six-and-a-half months, so we only have one third of the games played in the Premier League. As you all know, we have also agreed upon a two-year advisory role as well, after those six-and-a-half months, in the end, when a club like Manchester United contact you, you can't possibly turn it down."
Do you look at last night, for instance, and think there are things I can change straight away? How are you going to approach this with the team doing well obviously in the last three games, but not so well performance-wise before that?
"Obviously, I have watched the last few games, not only last night’s game but also the games against both Watford and Chelsea, before I knew actually if there was going to be any contact in the next few days. I also watch, out of interest, the games against Liverpool and Manchester City. I'm pretty well aware and acquitted of what’s going on here within both the club and in the Premier League. I think it’s also obvious the team has an abundance of young talent, and enough experienced players in the squad, but the target for me is to bring more balance in the team. Yesterday, we conceded two goals, we then needed three goals to win the game. If you look at the total goals conceded, it's two per game, which is too much. I want to bring balance and control within the games and yesterday’s game was obviously exciting for the fans even but, for myself, as the future coach, we don't want those games every time because, in football, you have to minimise the coincidence factor and to have control on the game. That's my approach, I want to help the outstanding players stay away from their own goal."
How is this going to be turned around? Consistent performances? And I guess the aim is top four really?
"The aim in the first instance is to win the next game. The next game comes around quickly because it’s on Sunday, so that leaves me with maybe one training session today but I can only introduce myself to the players today at three o’clock, but, of course, that’s not everybody it’s only the ones who didn’t play last night. It is literally one training session, so there are not many things that you can work on in just one session. Speaking to the players and letting them know what the approach will be, it will not be easy in the middle of the season, I am fully aware and I have enough experience to know you cannot change everything in 1-2 days or even 1-2 weeks, other Germans have had the same experience who have come to the Premier League. It’s about winning games and I’m very ambitious like everybody in the club but, in the end, we want to make the most successful season as possible. Right now, we have to be realistic - the gap to the top three is big but, on the other hand, we'll see. It’s about developing the team and learning to better control the game."
Is this the toughest challenge you have taken on during your very long career?
"It’s obviously the biggest club I have worked at, if not the biggest club in the world. It’s a massive challenge and I'm more than excited to work with those kind of players we have here. It’s a big challenge but, like I have said, I have also worked with top star players, at Schalke it was a similar situation and I am more than happy to work with this group of players."
If you are successful in the next six months there will inevitably be a chance for you to continue as manager, is that a possibility to continue after six months or are you clear about wanting to stop after six months and move to the consultancy role?
"The people who I have spoken with, so far, have been very clear that we are talking about a six-month role as manager currently, we have never spoken about anything after that in the summer. I am, of course, fully aware they are looking for a new manager, maybe if they ask me, we will see. Maybe, if they ask me my opinion as you said and everything goes well and I help develop the team, I might make the same recommendation as I did at Leipzig twice and say to them for me to stay on and continue working with me! But this is all hypothetical, I cannot speak about that now. For me, it’s about winning the next game and that is the focus."
When you look back at the eight-and-a-half years since the club last won a Premier League title, what have you seen in that time between winning that last title and where the club and where the squad finds itself now?
"Having had Sir Alex for 27 years, winning numerous titles, I don't think there was any other club, barring Guy Roux at Auxerre that had the same manager for that amount of time. It's unique, it's exceptional. For me now, after such a long and successful spell that the club needs to find a new pathway. There have been changes in management, five or six managers since Sir Alex left and, therefore, it’s difficult for the club to gain continuity, signing new players, developing and sticking to the DNA of the club. I think that's vital within modern football. It's not unusual with so many changes but I do think its vitally important that the board members and myself that we develop that same identity in the future."
Is your squad good enough to compete?
"It's definitely good enough to compete in the top flight. If you look at the top three teams now, they are very stable and they all have great coaches. If you see how they keep winning and keep winning games in style too, controlling the games. This is something we have to develop. When Jurgen [Klopp] came to Liverpool, it definitely wasn't a better squad than what I have here now at United."
How hard will it be to implementing this pressing style so closely associated with yourself and will there be any further coaching changes following the departure of Michael Carrick last night?
"Yes, I think to gain control on games in the future, we have to play proactively. No matter if we have the ball ourselves or if the opposition does, we must play together, team spirit, we saw that yesterday. If we compare first and second half yesterday, it was completely different, having had the most unique fans behind us, it will help and help the team to gain confidence, we could see that in the second half. It's not easy, can't implement that in one or two training sessions or one or two weeks and it’s not about pressing or counter-pressing, it’s about control. That is the major target. Michael, I only got to know the news two days ago. I met with him and Kieran [McKenna] and I had a long private conversation with him for more than an hour, I wanted to keep him on but he had obviously come to that decision weeks ago. After 30 years, he needed a rest and I understand, I have to accept that. About the coaching, I'm more than happy to work with them, I need their expertise and experience regarding the current squad. I want to find one, two or three to join us but due to Brexit, it's not that easy. Many of my former employers are tied up in long-term contracts with big clubs so they are not available right now. We need to be smart and clever, hopefully in one or two weeks but I don't know."
We touched on that philosophy you have, with having Cristiano Ronaldo here too, will you have to adapt to that style?
"You always have to adapt your style to suit the players you have, not vice-versa. Seeing Ronaldo at 36 in the second half; amazing, top professional. I have never seen anyone as fit at 36. He is still a player who can still make the difference. How can we develop the whole team? It’s not just about him, so we need all of the players involved. What I saw from Cristiano yesterday, he is more than willing to do that, to put his own input into the team. His team-mates will have to do the same."
https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...rst-man-utd-press-conference-3-december-2021#
Ralf's plan for the future Video
RALF'S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
You have a great record of signing players whilst with other clubs, as we approach January will you have any input on that? Also how will you relationship with John Murtough play out considering he is the current director of football and you are joining as a consultant?
"We haven't spoken about new players and it’s not the time to speak about that. Now it's time to get to know the current squad in detail. The squad is definitely not too small, there are certainly enough players within the squad. Maybe at Christmas, after Christmas, there might be time to talk about transfers, but from my experience, winter transfers are difficult and not sustainable. With the quality of the players we have here, it would in theory only make sense to sign players who give you that little bit of extra quality."
This is response Rangnick gave in his very first press conference, I don't feel he was eager for signings, and I don't think that is a bad thing giving he is only an interim.