RALF RANGNICK’S appointment as Manchester United interim manager has perplexed Graeme Souness who reckons the German’s there for a handsome pension.
Rangnick has been named Red Devils boss for the remainder of the season following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal.
But despite Rangnick being championed as arguably the best German coach of all time by the likes of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Souness isn’t convinced by his credentials.
A bemused Souness raged to talkSPORT: “This is the third interim manager since Fergie went. I don’t get it.
“The man Rangnick’s CV is not one you would go ‘wow’ and doesn’t jump out at you. He’s not been super successful. I think he’s won one trophy.”
However, Souness has got his figures wrong as Rangnick has lifted several trophies throughout his career including the Austrian Bundesliga twice with RB Salzburg.
But the coveted German Bundesliga eluded Ragnick during stints with Hoffenheim, Hannover, and two attempts with Schalke.
Although he did gain promotion for both Hoffenheim and Hannover into German football’s top-tier, which according to Souness proves Rangnick’s a manager who builds clubs slowly over a long period.
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And time isn’t on United’s side as they’re in desperate need of results now, Souness claims.
The Scot added: “His talent would appear, and we will find out, to go into a football club and develop the structure and improve in a five to ten year period.
“That’s not what Man United need right now. Man United need it instantly. They need someone to make an impact now.
“They’ve got a healthy group of players there and, there’s no doubt about it, Ole didn’t get the best out of that group of players.
“That’s what you are judged on. You walk into a football club, get the best out of the players and then if you are there long enough you can bring your own ones in to kick on.
“Right now, Manchester United have an underperforming squad of players.
“Will this new guy, who has never been in the Premier League be able to do that? I don’t think so.”
MONEY GRABBER
Rangnick may plant seeds at Old Trafford that will bear fruit in the years to come but won’t help them challenge the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool for the Prem title anytime soon, according to Souness.
Which is why the 63-year-old veteran is the only winner in this situation as he’ll be off in six months with a hefty cheque in tow en route to a cushty consultancy role, Souness thinks.
The pundit continued: “I don’t get this appointment on any level. If you are thinking about five or ten years time and the structures he might put in place [okay], [but it’s] six months and then he’s going to take a nice consultancy role.
“A nice pension for him, 63 years old, it’s lovely work if you can get it.”
“I just don’t get this appointment.”
Souness’ views echo that of his ex-club Lokomotiv Moscow’s former president who claims Rangnick only left the Russian side to join United in pursuit of a quick pay-day.
Nikolai Naumov insists Rangnick, who was Lokomotiv’s ex-head of sports and development has no interest in football and is only after money.
While making the wild accusations on Match TV, Naumov warned United that Rangnick will abandon them as soon as he’s offered more money elsewhere.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
