Steve McClaren has praised Ralf Rangnick's decision to appoint a sports psychologist amid reports he's set to return to Manchester United in the coming days.
Erik ten Hag was confirmed as United's next permanent manager on Thursday morning and will assume the role at the end of the season. The current Ajax boss is aiming to win a third Eredivisie title at his current club before joining the Red Devils.
McClaren is expected to be announced as Ten Hag's assistant at Old Trafford. The former England manager was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant between 1999 and 2001, helping them win the Premier League title in each of his three seasons at United.
Ten Hag has also worked with McClaren before. The incoming United boss was McClaren's assistant at Twente during the 2008-09 campaign. Twente went on to win the Eredivisie title the following season, although Ten Hag had left the club by that point.
Interim boss Rangnick has come under fire since succeeding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, as United have made little progress in the Premier League. They're currently sixth in the table, three points behind Tottenham in fourth having played a game more.
Rangnick brought in several coaches on his appointment, including sports psychologist Sascha Lense. The two worked with each other for three years at RB Leipzig. Several Premier League clubs have added a psychologist to their ranks in recent years.
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And, speaking in January, McClaren lauded Rangnick's decision to appoint Lense. McClaren was responsible for bringing Bill Beswick to Old Trafford in 1999, a decision that helped the Red Devils dominate the Premier League over the next three years.
"Football has changed in its approach to psychology since I started working with Bill but actually not that much," McClaren told The i. "I'm really surprised about that. Look at the reaction when Ralf Rangnick appointed a psychologist.
"It was almost like a scandal – what are they doing? I think there’s still a stigma. Players will talk about working with a sprint coach to improve their speed but, although players will work with a psychologist they almost whisper about it. We have to change that.
"It’'s not for everyone, you have to want to do it and be ready for it. But anything that makes you a better person and a better footballer, why not embrace it?"
McClaren's kind words will help his cause, as Rangnick is expected to start a two-year consultancy gig at Old Trafford this summer. The German will have an important say on the running of the club, although it's unclear exactly how much influence he will have.
United's football director John Murtough said in November: "Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football... everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him during the season ahead, and then for a further two years in his advisory role."
