In the aftermath of Manchester United’s Champions League last-16 elimination to Atletico Madrid, Paul Scholes has criticised interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s selection.
The current La Liga winners narrowly defeated the Red Devils, with Renan Lodl’s first-half header securing Atletico’s place in the quarter-finals. United will very certainly miss out on qualifying for next season’s competition as a result of the defeat.
Following the resignation of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Rangnick was chosen to lead the club until the end of the season, with the German poised to move into a consultancy role once his term ends. Scholes, on the other hand, believes that bringing in the former RB Leipzig sporting director was a good option.
It stems from a position of authority. It comes from a coach who demands it of his players and receives it from them. “I don’t want to keep slamming Ralf Rangnick; he appears to be a pleasant guy who comes across well in interviews and is quite honest,” he told BT Sport.
“However, I’ll never know how he was chosen to be the manager of this team for six months till the end of the season.” A big part of it is the coach. This isn’t a bad bunch of players. If you give this set of players a structure and a manner of playing, I believe they have some real skill.
“We know they aren’t as talented as the teams above them (in the Premier League).” But the club needs to get a proper coach to try and win silver wares Find a coach who fits the players’ personalities, and give them two or three years to establish a competitive group.” The importance of finding a right coach for this team cannot be overstated. This group has a lot of potential.”
While Scholes feels United should be entitled to hire anybody they want as their next manager, Rio Ferdinand, another United star, believes the magnitude of the assignment will deter elite managers. Any potential manager United would like to appoint, according to the former defender, is already employed by a club.