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Borussia Dortmund

Ralf Rangnick’s first 5 jobs at Man Utd including fixing Cristiano Ronaldo’s positioning


Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as the club’s interim boss, replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manger for the remainder of the season

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Who is Ralf Rangnick? Man Utd’s interim boss in profile

Ralf Rangnick has been confirmed as Manchester United’s interim boss, signing a contract that will see him lead the team until the end of the season.

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United officials had always planned to hire a temporary replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was dismissed following the 4-1 defeat at Watford.

Rangnick, 63, was the preferred candidate after impressing in his interview in the aftermath of Solskjaer’s dismissal.

The German will be tasked with helping United arrest an alarming slide that has seen them pick up just four points from the last 21 available in the Premier League.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Rangnick prove to be a good appointment for Man Utd? Let us know in the comments

Ralf Rangnick has been named as Man Utd’s interim boss
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He takes over ahead of a pivotal run of fixtures which will help determine the Red Devils’ aspirations for the remainder of the season

While the title now feels a long way away, there is a battle on their hands to secure a Champions League berth to set the long-term manager up in the perfect situation next summer.

Rangnick has built up extensive experience throughout a lengthy career in the game and will need to use all that expertise to guide United out of their rocky patch.

Here are five things the new boss will have to sort as a matter of urgency now his appointment has been confirmed:

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s best position

Despite scoring ten times already this season, there is a feeling that Ronaldo’s dramatic summer return has made United more unbalanced as a team.

Solskjaer instantly made him the focal point of his attack, replacing Edinson Cavani, who spent the majority of last season leading the line.

And while his goals have proved vital, there have been concerns over his pressing game – or indeed lack of it.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored against Villarreal after starting on the left side of United’s front three
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Caretaker boss Michael Carrick instantly switched it up in midweek, playing the 36-year-old on the left hand side of the attack, a position he regularly adopted for both Juventus and Portugal.

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As the Godfather of the Gegenpress, Rangnick will demand his players harry opposition, so working out where Ronaldo’s limitations can be disguised is a major decision to make.

Get Bruno and Ronaldo clicking

Perhaps the most alarming element of the decline under Solskjaer was the drastic loss of form from Bruno Fernandes.

In his first 18 months in English football, the midfielder was one of the most influential players in Europe, boasting an incredible record in terms of goals and assists.

Bruno Fernandes and Ronaldo have failed to properly link up so far this season

And while he has continued to create, his goals have completely dried up, failing to score since Ronaldo’s debut at the start of September.

Fernandes hasn’t looked himself in recent weeks and has resembled the player that often underperforms on the national stage.

Getting Ronaldo and Bruno firing will see United improve quickly.

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Finding a place for Van de Beek

Donny van de Beek has endured a very frustrating start to life at Manchester United
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Solskjaer’s final year in charge seemed to be filled with controversies regarding players that weren’t in his starting lineup.

Signed from Ajax in the summer of 2020, Donny van de Beek failed to ever fully establish himself under the Norwegian, with his future looking increasingly bleak.

The Dutchman showed exactly what he could offer in a promising second-half cameo at Watford and giving him a chance would get fans on board immediately.

Depending on which formation Rangnick opts to use, Van de Beek’s versatility could prove extremely useful.

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Solving the ‘McFred’ issue

Finding a place for Van de Beek should in turn ease another one of the biggest frustrations regarding Solskjaer’s team selections.

The partnership of Fred and Scott McTominay was a favourite for the old manager but was highly criticised by pundits and fans alike.

Rangnick often plays a 4-2-2-2 formation meaning while there are still two holding players, one can be trusted to break forward more often.

That would suit someone like Van de Beek perfectly and allow United to be more comfortable in possession.

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Sancho solutions

Jadon Sancho scored his first Man Utd goal in the win over Villarreal
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In Michael Carrick’s first game as caretaker boss, United fans finally got a glimpse of the Jadon Sancho that terrorised defenders while with Borussia Dortmund.

Starting on the right, Sancho tormented Villarreal both with and without the ball and richly deserved his thumping late strike, his first goal contribution since signing this summer.

Solskjaer appeared to have major reservations about giving his £73million signing regular gametime, but Rangnick has first-hand experience of how devastating Sancho could be.

During his time in the Bundesliga, Sancho regularly came up against Rangnick’s RB Leipzig and he should know exactly how to get the best out of him.

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