Manchester United news: Ralf Rangnick confirms additions to coaching staff

The German was assisted by technical director Darren Fletcher and first-team coach Kieran McKenna during his first match in charge.

Ralf Rangnick on the touchline at Old Trafford in a file photo; Credit: Twitter@ManUtd
By Karthik Raman | Dec 7, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has announced the addition of two new members to his backroom coaching staff. The German was assisted by technical director Darren Fletcher and first-team coach Kieran McKenna during his first match in charge against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Both were present during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s managerial reign. However, the overall coaching staff numbers reduced after Michael Carrick announced his departure from the club following last week’s 3-2 win over Arsenal. In Rangnick’s first match, Manchester United players overcame a resilient Palace side 1-0 in the Premier League, thanks to a late wonder goal by Fred. 

Ahead of the Champions League match, Rangnick announced the recruitment of coach Chris Armas and sports psychologist Sascha Lense. Armas – a former New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC manager – has enjoyed a long playing career in Major League Soccer and with the US national team. On the other hand, Lense has worked alongside Rangnick at Schalke and Red Bull Leipzig. The interim Manchester United manager provided the updates about the new appointments in a pre-match press conference for the final Champions League group-stage game against Young Boys at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Who are the new additions? Rangnick explains

“It won’t be that many [staff coming in],” explained Rangnick. “So far I’m very happy to work with the staff I have met last week, and they gave me a lot of help in the last couple of days in preparation for the Crystal Palace game. We have decided to bring in a sports psychologist, with Sascha Lense. He’s from Germany, he’s a former Second Division player.

“I worked with him for three years at Leipzig, in the year I won promotion from the second to the first division myself and the following two years when Ralph Hasenhuttl was head coach and Zsolt Low – the current assistant coach of Thomas Tuchel – was assistant coach. We have known each other since then and he will be introduced to the team as soon as he’s got his visa and work permit.

“I will also have one other assistant coach, with Chris Armas,” Rangnick continued. “Chris used to be the assistant coach at the New York Red Bulls under Jesse Marsch. That was five years ago, when I first met him. Since then we have met quite frequently. Also in my role as head of global for Red Bull in the last three-and-a-half years he was head coach for the New York Red Bulls and for Toronto in the MLS.”

Nemanja Matic praises Fred and Scott McTominay

Nemanja Matic has heaped praise on fellow Manchester United midfielders Fred and Scott McTominay. After being criticised in the opening weeks, Fred – with a pair of assists against Arsenal in last week’s 3-2 home win and the match-winning goal on Sunday against Crystal Palace – has received a lot of plaudits recently. Matic, who is the veteran in the midfield department, believes his teammates will only continue to improve.

“First and foremost, they are great people,” Matic said in Tuesday’s press conference, previewing the Champions League match against BSC Young Boys. “They are great in the changing room and very important players in our team. They improve a lot game by game.

“They don’t get enough praise because always people scoring goals get praise after the games but sooner or later, they will get what they deserve, and I think game by game they’re better and better. They have to continue to work in this way and I’m sure they will have a bright future.”





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