Ralf previews first festive experience

Monday 27 December 2021 07:00

Ralf Rangnick has been used to having a break from football at Christmas during his career but our interim manager says he is especially looking forward to experiencing it with Manchester United this year.

The boss's work to date has always been in other countries with no Christmas and new-year fixtures, but he revealed he has always actively followed the festive programme in England.

During his exclusive interview with club media's Mark Sullivan, Ralf reflected on watching Christmas games from afar, discussed the latest on his players and staff and he also had a special message for the fans...

Training has obviously been disrupted over the last week or so, so what are the plans for the next few days, leading up to that Newcastle game?
“As you probably know we had to close Carrington for four days – Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The last training session before that break we were down to eight outfield players and three goalkeepers. On Tuesday we resumed for training here and on the first day we had 14 or 15 players and on Wednesday it was 18 to 20 and on Thursday we had 25. Apart from Paul Pogba we had all the players available at training which is a massive improvement within one week to have 17 players more available. Everyone has looked in good shape and good health and if everything stays like it is right now and we don’t get any further cases, and I’m optimistic and positive about that, then it will be difficult for me to decide not only on the starting XI, but on the eight [outfield] players sitting on the bench.”

What’s the challenge been like over the last week or two to try to adjust to this difficult time in the world, even for yourself?
“If we’re all honest when I had my first game against Crystal Palace and the training session before I think had anyone told us this would happen I don’t think anyone would have believed it. We had this situation in Germany three or four weeks ago so they were a few weeks ahead of us with this fourth or fifth wave and quite a few players were positively-tested there at my former club Leipzig. For me it didn’t come as such a big, big surprise, of course I would have wished that it wouldn’t have happened, but I think for everybody it’s about making the best out of it and making sure we are being protected in the future and we don’t have any further cases in the next six months. I know that there is no guarantee for that, but we can still make sure we do everything we possibly can within our club that it doesn’t happen again.”

Ralf on Xmas, COVID and a new addition Video

Ralf on Xmas, COVID and a new addition

In our exclusive interview, the boss looks ahead to the festive fixtures and welcomes Ewan Sharp...

When we spoke to Marcus Rashford this week he said it was great to have almost everyone back training – what has it been like to have everyone back together and what’s the feeling been at Carrington?
“We still try to keep distanced and are regularly wearing masks, although obviously not when we are training outdoors. The players all did their homework as far as I could tell, they all look good. They did their homework at home on the treadmills or the bikes and some did some training outdoors in their gardens. So I’m pretty positive for the upcoming games regarding the physical state. Now it’s about trying to develop the team tactically and finding the best possible balance of still being an attacking, offensive team which we will always be especially with all the players that we have - we should play like that. But on the other hand we also need to make sure it’s difficult to score against us and create chances. This perfect balance is what it’s all about and we try to develop the team with all those aspects.”

What’s the team news ahead of the trip to Newcastle in terms of player availability?
“Well as I said we had 25 players in on Thursday and the only one missing was Paul Pogba. Hannibal was here training for the first time since I arrived having just come back from the Arab Cup. Unfortunately for us and for him he will be missing out [with us] again in January because of the Africa Cup of Nations. I watched the final before his substitution and I’m fully aware that we have another good, highly-talented player coming from our youth ranks and hopefully after the Africa Cup of Nations he can regularly train and be part of our group.”

In your brief time in charge so far, we’ve seen you give minutes to youngsters – is that something that is important to you?
“I think since the Busby Babes this has always been part of the DNA of the club and the same was true under Sir Alex Ferguson in those 27 years. It’s not only about youth, it’s about being talented and having the right personality and mentality and if those things come together then of course I want to play as many of those young players as possible. We had three, four or five of them in our squad already and for me it’s important to develop those players.”

The transfer window opens in January – is there a sense that some business needs to be done in terms of players in or out or loans for players who perhaps aren’t featuring under you at the moment?
“Right now my full focus is on the current players and getting to know them. We’ve been together now for more than three weeks so I think I have a much better overview on all the players we have currently. For me it’s about developing those players but if a player wants to leave because he feels he will not get enough game-time here with us then we can speak about that, but it’s not only about what the player wants, it’s also about the situation of the club. Two things need to come together if a player wants to leave – one thing is if he wants to leave, but on the other hand the needs of the club need to be satisfied.”

Despite having a couple of games postponed, it’s still a busy Christmas period. You’re used to having a winter break in Germany so are you looking forward to it all?
“I’ve watched Premier League football for the last 40 years so when it was also the First Division and I know what kind of tradition it is to play football over Christmas and on Boxing Day, the 27th, the 30th and even New Year’s Day or the 2nd January. So if somebody came across the idea to abolish then we might as well speak about abolishing the five o’clock tea or the Queen or whatever – this is all part of the tradition of this country and I’m very much looking forward to being part of this for the first time in my career. As I said earlier, there might be one or two issues we could think about or seriously discuss. In the future does it still make sense to have two cup competitions? All other big European leagues have only one so this might be an issue worth talking about again and of course we are also discussing that it makes sense to have five subs instead of three now we have COVID times again. The reason the five substitutes were implemented was for COVID, now we have a COVID situation again and we still have 18 players on the team-sheet and for me it makes sense to be able to substitute not just three, but five players."

Rangnick issues United squad update

 Article

Read the latest news from Ralf as we count down towards Monday's trip to Newcastle.

You’ve added Ewan Sharp to your backroom team this week. Obviously you’ve worked with him before so what can he bring to United?
“Ewan and I worked together when he was still with the New York Red Bulls as a video analyst and assistant coach. At the time I was in my role as Head of Global Football for Red Bull and at that time I got to know him and even though he was only 26 he was such a talented person and he still is. He was in Toronto and then at Lokomotiv Moscow and I’m very happy to have him on board, even more so because Chris Armas has also worked with him during his time at New York Red Bulls.”

As this year draws to a close, what’s your message for United fans ahead of 2022?
“I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas together with their families. Let’s hope and make sure we can still play in front of our supporters in the future. This also means that the fans themselves stay in good health and stay safe – that would be my wish to everybody and hopefully we can see each other at the upcoming home games or away games. I’m very much looking forward to playing in front of 75,000 at Old Trafford. And I send all my best wishes for the new year to everybody as well.”

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