Ralf Rangnick Slams Manchester United Over ‘Leaderhship Problem’ | OneFootball

Ralf Rangnick’s Leadership Warning Still Echoes at Manchester United

It has been more than two years since Ralf Rangnick left Manchester United, but the former interim manager’s words continue to resonate. As the Red Devils attempt to build a new era under Ruben Amorim, Rangnick’s scathing analysis of his short stint at the club highlights long-standing issues that still loom large.

“I think we have to go back to 2013, when Sir Alex left the club,” Rangnick recently told Sport. “And at the time he was still there, he was the mastermind behind it all. He probably also brought a lot of important people to the club. And the moment he left, some of those people probably left the club as well. And, since then, I think they have a leadership problem.”

It is not the first time Rangnick has spoken about dysfunction at the club. During his tenure in the 2021–22 season, he described the problems at Manchester United as requiring “open heart surgery.” Since then, the decline has become more pronounced, with United finishing a dismal 15th in the Premier League last season.

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Lack of Clarity and Control Behind the Scenes

One of Rangnick’s key frustrations was the opaque chain of command at Old Trafford. “Who’s really making the decisions and why are they making them? Are they really the best people for the job?” he asked. “I can only tell you that the six months I was there, it was difficult to say, even for me as head coach. Who were the decision-makers? Who? Who could I talk to? If we wanted to sign new players, it was difficult. There were people, but in the end, it was difficult.”

Such ambiguity points to systemic flaws in the club’s hierarchy. It is no surprise, then, that transfer strategies have often seemed muddled and reactionary.

Strategic Missteps in the Transfer Market

Rangnick also questioned the club’s approach to player recruitment. Following a humbling loss to Liverpool in 2022, he famously said United were “six years behind” their rivals. That gap appears no closer to being closed, as poor investment continues to plague the club.

“If I were the owner or sporting director of a club, I would only try to sign and invest in young players,” Rangnick explained. “Because no matter how you look at it, it only makes sense. Does it make sense to spend £30, 40, 50 million on a 28 or 30-year-old signing? Not really.”

He offered a stark financial breakdown: “Let’s calculate it. You sign a 28 or 30-year-old with a five-year contract. You spend £50m more on the transfer fee, an average of £15m per year multiplied by five. That’s £65m plus the £50m transfer fee equals £115m, plus the agents’ fees. The whole operation costs you around £130m.”