Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick admitted it is “obvious quite a few players will leave” and reaffirmed the “need for top-quality players” ahead of the Erik Ten Hag era.
The German oversaw a 3-0 win over Brentford in his final home game in charge of the club he took over in November on an interim basis and will soon move into a consultancy role, a job he will balance alongside his imminent role as the Austrian national team manager.
Cristiano Ronaldo, whose future is a subject of debate, rolled back the years to help end United’s home campaign on a relatively positive note on a night in which the likes of Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Edinson Cavani were granted ammicable goodbyes.
Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane scored either side of Ronaldo’s penalty but a win over a Brentford side sitting comfortably in mid-table will do little to appease the apathy supporters have shown towards the direction the club are heading in.
Whether or not Ten Hag’s arrival in the summer can lift the mood after so many protests against the Glazer family spanning back across the years even before the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson remains to be seen, although Rangnick spoke positively about a rebuild.
“So far we haven’t been able to speak,” he told Sky Sports after the game.
“Erik’s focus is on winning the Dutch league, our focus was on our games. It’s obvious quite a few players will leave and there is a need for top-quality players. I strongly believe that if everyone works together we can bring Man Utd back to where we need to be.
“Other clubs only needed two or three transfer windows to challenge but from now on we need to bring in top-quality players who really help raise the level. If this happens then I don’t think it should take too long. “
