Man United: Sir Alex Ferguson’s brutal put-down to assistant coach Chris Armas

‘You’ll need more than that here, son!’: Sir Alex Ferguson’s brutal put-down to Man United’s ‘Ted Lasso’ assistant coach Chris Armas after he told the Old Trafford legend of his managerial stints at New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC

  • Ralf Rangnick brought in Chris Armas as his assistant upon his arrival at the club 
  • The American had been fired from his job with Toronto FC a few months earlier
  • Armas had previously managed New York Red Bulls and played at Chicago Fire
  • Sir Alex Ferguson told Armas his experience wasn’t sufficient for Old Trafford 

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly delivered a brutal put-down to assistant coach Chris Armas after Ralf Rangnick sought advice from the legendary boss.

Outgoing interim manager Rangnick’s short reign at Old Trafford was a failure after he was appointed to salvage the Red Devils’ season following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. They slumped to a sixth-place finish on Sunday, missing out on Champions League football.

Rangnick brought in Armas, who was fired from his job as Toronto manager a few months earlier having won one of his 11 games in charge, as one of his assistants at the start of December.

Interim boss Ralf Rangnick brought in Chris Armas (pictured) as one of his assistants upon his arrival at Old Trafford

Sir Alex Ferguson (left) reportedly delivered a brutal put-down to Man United assistant coach Chris Armas (right) when the pair first met 

Manchester United slumped to another defeat on Sunday and finished the season in sixth

Manchester United slumped to another defeat on Sunday and finished the season in sixth

A number of reports have suggested that United’s players were less than impressed with both Rangnick and his coaching staff, with ESPN claiming that American Armas had been likened to fictional manager Ted Lasso – the main character in the Apple TV+ series where an American college football coach is hired to take charge of a Premier League side – by some members of the United squad. 

And according to The Athletic, it wasn’t just the players who turned their noses up at the appointment as Ferguson delivered his own damning verdict.  

Rangnick reportedly sought advice from Ferguson and sent assistant coach Armas to meet with him after their 1-1 home draw against Young Boys in the Champions League group stages.  

American coach Armas

The 49-year-old has reportedly been compared to Ted Lasso  - the protagonist in the Apple TV+ series

The 49-year-old American coach has reportedly been compared to Ted Lasso (right) – the protagonist in the popular Apple TV+ series

There was reportedly discontent in the squad about Ralf Rangnick's (right) choice of staff

There was reportedly discontent in the squad about Ralf Rangnick’s (right) choice of staff

But Ferguson, who led United to 13 Premier League titles, implied the 49-year-old’s experience was not sufficient for Old Trafford. 

The coach is said to have explained his CV to the Scot, including his playing career at Chicago Fire and managerial stints at New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC.

The report claims that Ferguson simply smiled and said: ‘You’ll need more than that here, son.’ 

The Athletic also reports that Armas almost always wore Air Pods on the sidelines to communicate with another member of Rangnick’s staff, Lars Kornetka.

Kornetka was not actually employed by the club but did extensive data analysis, even during games, and relayed the information to the interim boss via Armas. 

The American often wore Air Pods on the sidelines to communicate with Lars Kornetka

The American often wore Air Pods on the sidelines to communicate with Lars Kornetka

Armas will not be staying at Old Trafford for Erik ten Hag’s tenure with his contract expiring at the end of the season. 

Rangnick is said to be leaving behind a toxic dressing room for incoming manager Ten Hag. 

According to the Manchester Evening News, the United squad has been described as a ‘toxic mix of backbiting and spitefulness’ after a season to forget. While this has been publicised on previous occasions, more detail has emerged.

According to the report, ‘bully behaviour’ has been directed towards interim head coach Ralf Rangnick, who was nicknamed ‘specs’ by people close to one of the stars inside the dressing room. 

New boss Erik ten Hag faces a huge challenge to transform the 'toxic' dressing room

New boss Erik ten Hag faces a huge challenge to transform the ‘toxic’ dressing room

It is claimed Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard weren't given instructions against Man City

It is claimed Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard weren’t given instructions against Man City

Rangnick also had his decisions openly described as ‘bad’ by one player, while others moaned about the German talking to them ‘like a child’. They also suggested they ‘did not give a s****’ about his advice. 

Jesse Lingard’s feelings on the state of the atmosphere inside the dressing room was laid bare by Paul Scholes during one media appearance, as he shared the winger’s analysis that it was a ‘disaster’. According to the report, Lingard was not fussed about the public sharing of his words. 

It is also claimed that Lingard and Marcus Rashford were given no instructions whatsoever when they were sent on as substitutes during the 4-1 defeat by rivals Manchester City. ‘They didn’t have a f*****g clue what they were doing,’ was the assessment of one source. 

The blame for such instances was placed at the door of Armas. Some within Carrington felt the 49-year-old was ‘out of his depth’.