Ralf Blues-print
BOSS CAN GIVE UTD WINNING TUCH
IF RALF RANGNICK needs the blueprint for success, all he has to do is turn up at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
The parallels between Manchester United and Chelsea are quite startling.
The Blues appointed a club legend as manager but were forced to jettison him when it didn’t work out.
Frank Lampard was then replaced by one of the most highly-regarded coaches in European football in the shape of Thomas Tuchel – and the upturn in fortunes was quite stunning.
In the space of six months Tuchel led the Blues to Champions League glory and his team are now riding high at the top of the Premier League table.
United have decided to take notice of the damage that can be done when sentiment overrides sense and dispense with the popular but limited Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer. Parachuting in to replace him is Rangnick, the man known as the ‘Godfather of German Football’ for his impressive and innovative coaching.
His impending appointment on a short-term deal until the end of this season is proving popular amongst United supporters – and so it should.
But name me a manager who hasn’t been hailed as some sort of masterstroke on day one?
Rangnick has quite an in-tray waiting for him in his new office at United’s Carrington training ground.
His to-do list includes providing his new team with a purpose and identity, rebuilding the confidence of captain
Harry
Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, improving the work ethic and commitment of the group and not being reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo to bail them out of trouble. All we can do is wish the bloke the best of British, but the coming months could well prove to us how smart Rangnick actually is – and just how out of his depth Solskjaer was.
The industrious Rangnick has been studying footage of United’s recent performances but these video nasties will not do justice to how bad the fallen giants have been.
If Rangnick, who is understood to have visa problems, watches closely today, the first alarm bell ringing in his head will be the plain and simple fact that Tuchel’s team are well coached and United are not. No one is expecting Rangnick to conquer Europe with United in the coming months – but Tuchel is living proof of what can happen to a side when an elite coach gets his hands on a team.
The Blues are super-motivated, well drilled, have no weakness and each player knows his role to perfection.
Just ask Juventus, who got hammered 4-0 in London earlier this week.
United could suffer a similar fate today, but it could prove to be a blessing in disguise because Rangnick needs to know the size of the task he’s taken on.
Patience will be needed, because the damage Solskjaer was allowed to do cannot be fixed by a magic wand.
But if Rangnick needs an example of what to base his own model on, he need look no further than what is standing in front of him at the first time of asking.