Incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to hold talks with Ralf Rangnick… and will be warned about the lack of team spirit in the squad as he prepares to take the reins at Old Trafford
- Erik ten Hag is due to officially take charge at Manchester United next week
- The Dutchman will discuss the squad with interim manager Ralf Rangnick
- Rangnick said he had been in contact with Ten Hag over WhatsApp
- Ten Hag is due to attend United’s final game of the season at Crystal Palace
Ralf Rangnick is set for talks with Erik ten Hag and will warn his replacement as Manchester United manager that a lack of team spirit is one of the biggest problems facing the club.
Ten Hag will be at Selhurst Park on Sunday to see Rangnick take charge of his final game against Crystal Palace before handing over the reins, and the two men are due to meet after only exchanging text messages to far.
United’s interim boss will advise Ten Hag about the problems he will inherit at Old Trafford, and admits there wasn’t enough togetherness among the players.
Ralf Rangnick will tell Erik ten Hag that team spirit is a big issue in the Man United squad
Ten Hag is due to officially take over at Old Trafford next week and will attend the Palace game
‘It has to do with confidence, also mentality and team spirit, togetherness, and we just fell short in those areas,’ said Rangnick, pin-pointing how United’s season fizzled out after defeat to Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in March.
‘For me, the biggest disappointment is we didn’t manage to develop a certain team spirit to help us in the difficult parts of games. This is the biggest issue for me in hindsight.’
On meeting Ten Hag, Rangnick added: ‘We have been in contact via WhatsApp and hopefully we will have the opportunity to speak or meet in person either over the weekend or on Monday morning at the latest. I’m looking forward to speaking with him in person and getting to know him.
United have endured a dismal season and could finish as low as seventh in the Premier League
‘I can only answer the questions that he has. I don’t need to be brutal. Obviously, I made this experience and it is still an experience I would not want to miss.
‘Although we were on a positive pathway in the first three or four months, we could not keep that permanently and that’s why I’m absolutely disappointed.
‘We could all have done better, including myself. We all have to be as self-critical as we can be.
‘If there is a good thing about the poor season, it’s pretty obvious in which areas we need to make sure improvement can happen.’ United must hold onto sixth place to qualify for the Europa League and avoid the ignominy of the Europa Conference League.
‘I think it is a big difference if a club like Manchester United plays in the Europa League rather than the Europa Conference,’ said Rangnick.
‘I am also positive the players would rather play in the Europa League.’
United suffered an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brighton in their last outing
