Ralf Rangnick has laid out the steps which Manchester United need to follow in order to bring back the glory days to Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag.
The 63-year-old has presided over dire first-team affairs since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November, as the Red Devils have slumped to their worst ever points tally from a Premier League season. Rangnick will round out his underwhelming reign with a trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday before beginning his two-year consultancy role while coaching the Austrian national team.
New manager Ten Hag will be watching from the Selhurst Park stands this weekend after working at the club's London offices and planning for a seismic summer transfer window since Monday. Back in Manchester on Friday, Rangnick discussed his own future and told reporters what the United hierarchy must change over the coming months.
"We spoke about [the consultancy role] in detail," the ex- RB Leipzig boss explained in reference to talks with club officials behind the scenes. "About all the different areas where I could maybe be of help. It's not that easy or not that difficult to know in which areas this could be. I think we showed that in the last 15 years with Hoffenheim, [Red Bull] Salzburg and Leipzig, even for clubs not as prominent as Manchester United, it's possible to identify, develop and even at one stage sell.
"I know Manchester United is not a selling club but rather a developing and buying club, but this is possible and this is what is most important, that the club finds players for whom it is the next next logical step is in their career, to develop their sporting career. If that happens, I can be positive and I can hopefully be encouraging our fans that we will bring United back to the top."
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Rangnick added: "I still strongly believe that there is a core of players who are top, good enough to play for this club. Hopefully must be here next season. If we bring in the right players, mentality players, I am positive we will be able to bring this club back to the top. Maybe not possible in one window, but next two or three."
Sadly for the 63-year-old, though, disappointment still lingers over his miserable reign. "I think that until we dropped out at Atletico [Madrid in the Champions League in March], we have lost confidence, energy in the team," Rangnick went on to say.
"Until then we had stabilised the team. Until then were were much more stable defensively. Since Atletico we just didn't find our shape, form again. It has got to do with confidence, team spirit and togetherness. This is my biggest disappointment that we didn't establish that team spirit."
As for his relationship with Ten Hag, the acclaimed German coach has broken the ice, with the pair set to sit down together next week. "We have been in contact, via WhatsApp, hopefully have chance to meet and speak in person at weekend or Monday morning at latest," Rangnick revealed. "I'm looking forward to speaking to him and getting to know him in person."
