Ralf Rangnick claimed players were “unhappy” as he replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Manchester United in 2021.
News surrounding Manchester United entered an unexpected frenzy following the 1-1 draw with Leeds United in the Premier League as Ruben Amorim was released from his duties.
Since then, numerous names have been thrown around both in an interim caretaker capacity and some with a full-time capacity.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick have been earmarked as the two candidates leading the race to be caretaker manager, with some reports saying both could return in a new joint coaching staff.
With the potential return of the Norwegian, some old quotes from the previous interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, who replaced the United legend in 2021, have resurfaced.
Rangnick left frustrated by what Solskjær left behind
After two bright seasons and finishing in the top four for back-to-back seasons, the final season for Solskjær went horribly wrong, and he was sacked in November 2021 after a 4-1 loss to Watford and losing 5-0 to Liverpool and 2-0 to Manchester City before that.
After taking over for the rest of the season, Rangnick attempted to steady the ship with the side he inherited in seventh. However, after early success, United ended the season in sixth.
The German had plenty to say about his predecessor throughout the season about the side he inherited. Potential issues that may resurface should Solskjær return.
Speaking after his initial good start to his tenure, Rangnick pointed out one game at the end of Solskjær’s tenure that showed how far the team had come under the German’s management. He said: “When City won 2-0 at Old Trafford, they did it in style and it could have been a higher margin.
“Now, for us, it is about confirming the development of the team in the last three months. We have been unbeaten in the last 11 games and we haven’t lost a single away game since I arrived.”
When the club entered a run of poor form, Rangnick also pointed out his predecessor’s poor start as one of many reasons for the club’s failure to return to the Champions League for a third season on the bounce.
“It [missing out on the Champions League] has always been a concern since Ole left the club. That was one of the reasons why he probably had to leave the club, and of course, results like today’s [Southampton draw] don’t make things any easier.”
Later into his United tenure, Rangnick said: “I can only tell you from my personal experience in the last 12 weeks, yes, there were players unhappy until the closure of the window because, as I always said, the squad was too big, we had too many players who just realised they wouldn’t get game-time and this has improved, for sure.”
Things would be different now
While there is no guarantee the potential appointment of Solskjær would be a success, given the poor end to his tenure in his first stint, there are also signs of optimism.
What the club needs right now is an immediate boost, someone who knows the club and gets the players enjoying their football again. While some benefitted from Amorim’s cold-hearted and often emotional outbursts in public, other players need that feel-good factor again.
Who else has had a better track record of that in an interim capacity than Solskjær?
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After taking over a side that was in even greater mental turmoil than now under Jose Mourinho. As an interim, the Norwegian had a 74% win record before earning the job full-time, including 14 wins in 19 games, scoring 40 goals and only conceding 17.
While the club should only make this a deal till the end of the season and look to hire a big-hitter manager in the summer, with the players the club have and the system we know Solskjær likes to play, there is so much to like about this move.
The likes of Bruno Fernandes, who thrived under Solskjær, as well as Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and young talent like Shea Lacey, make this seem like a great match.
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