Ralf Ragnick wants to bring more “balance” to the Man Utd team with the side currently leaking goals on a regular basis.
The former RB Leipzig boss was appointed as the new interim manager at Old Trafford last week but the wait for a work permit meant Michael Carrick took charge of the 3-2 victory over Arsenal on Thursday night.
Rangnick was revealed to the media on Friday after Carrick announced he would be leaving his role as first-team coach following their win against the Gunners.
Big Weekend: Toon v Burnley, Rangnick, Rice, Rafa, Der Klassiker
Man Utd have conceded 24 goals in 14 Premier League matches this season, four times what leaders Chelsea have let in, and Rangnick sees improving their defending as a key target.
Rangnick told reporters: “The major target for me is just to bring more balance to the team. We conceded two goals yesterday and if you look at the total of number of goals conceded, it is on average of two a game. That is just too much. Those are not the kind of games you need every day. In football to me, it’s to minimise the coincidence factor.”
💬 “If a club like Manchester United contacts you, you can’t turn it down,” says Ralf.
“The major target for me in the next days and weeks is to bring more balance to the team.” ⚖️#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 3, 2021
There has been speculation that Rangnick is one of several managers who could be offered the permanent role in the summer – but the German was coy on his intentions.
Rangnick added: “The people with whom I’ve spoken with, they have been very clear that it is a six-month role. We have never spoken about what will happen in the summer. If they will speak about me with that, we will see. if they ask me about my opinion, I might make the same recommendation that I did at RB Leipzig twice, that it might be better to work with me for one year.”
Man Utd have not won a Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 and Rangnick thinks the club needs a “new pathway”.
He continued: “It’s not unusual that after along. successful spell, the club needs to find a new pathway. The club has had no continuity in signing new players and sticking to the DNA of the club. In the future, the board members and my self have the same opinion. It’s important not to have many changes in management.”
