Does new Man Utd manager Ten Hag have a good relationship with Rangnick?

Robin Bairner

22 Apr 2022 16:10 BST
3 min read

Erik ten Hag will take over as Manchester United manager from Ralf Rangnick, who was filling the post on a temporary basis, in the summer.

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The Ajax head coach will ultimately work in conjunction with Rangnick for the next two years, with the German set to move upstairs into an advisory role.

If Man Utd are to rediscover their former glory any time soon, the pair will have to work effectively together, with the club facing the stark prospect of missing out on the Champions League next season.

Have Ten Hag and Rangnick worked closely before?

But what sort of relationship do these two men and how influential was Rangnick in the appointment of Ten Hag at Old Trafford?

The interim Man Utd boss addressed these questions at a press conference on Friday and, perhaps surprisingly, his answers reveal that he only knows Ten Hag by his reputation.

“We don't know each other in person, we haven't met as yet in person,” he revealed.

Nevertheless, he has been impressed with the Dutchman’s work from his time in Germany.

“From what I've seen him do at Bayern Munich when he was the Under-23 coach and Ajax now, I like his football and I'm pretty positive that with a full pre-season, with having the chance to build and mould his own staff, also a new team, which is obvious, we will have a new team. With a full pre-season, I am pretty sure we will see a different team and improvement on the pitch.

“I knew that Erik was one of the candidates the board spoke to and obviously I told them, at least from what I had seen and knew from people who had worked with Erik, that I think he would be a good choice and I still believe he will be a very good choice.”

How much input will Ten Hag have on transfer policy?

Meanwhile, Rangnick has confirmed that the rebuild under the new manager will be extensive and has suggested that Ten Hag will have a big say in the club’s transfer policy going forwards.

“He will have his own ideas. It's not three or four players, it's obvious, bearing in mind how many contracts are expiring,” he added.

It will be a significant change and rebuild necessary, that's clear

- Ralf Rangnick

“It will be a significant change and rebuild necessary, that's clear. But how many players and which positions, I haven't spoken to Erik in person as yet but if he asks me for my opinion in person I'm ready and willing to speak to him about my experience.”

Ten Hag has already been linked with trying to bring Ajax stars Antony and Jurrien Timber to Manchester United during the summer transfer window.