Ralf Rangnick
Ralf Rangnick says Louis van Gaal should have been prepared for the commercial commitments he encountered as Manchester United manager. On Monday, Van Gaal advised Ajax coach Erik ten Hag to join a football club and not ‘commercial club’ United, who interviewed the Dutchman last week. Ten Hag is United’s preferred candidate to take over as permanent manager in the summer. Interim manager Rangnick encountered Van Gaal as coach of Hoffenheim and Schalke in the Bundesliga and defended the business side at United.
Ralf Rangnick said: “I think football worldwide and even more so in the English Premier League, when any rich person or company can buy a club – as long as they pass the fit and proper person test – is a commercialised business, that’s for sure. No matter which club in which city. What I can only tell you from the last four months is that this is a club with a big tradition with a close relationship with the supporters and to the whole city, region and area. I don’t see anything negative in that and if this was aimed at something else inside the club I can’t say anything to that. Louis himself, as an experienced coach, signed a contract here some seven or eight years ago and he could have known that in advance if he had that opinion. For me, it’s a great club and if the club draws the right conclusions on what’s happened in the last couple of years. Yes, the last couple of years have not been as good as expected, but if they draw the right conclusions I still see a very bright future for this club.”
When it was suggested to Rangnick the commercial arm enabled United to compete for players in the transfer market,
Ralf Rangnick replied: “It’s always good if you have money available to sign players but the question is do you sign the right players? It’s not only a question of money but a question of what kind of idea do you have behind that? What kind of philosophy? And how do you want to play? It’s not only a question of money.”
