What to expect from Ralph Rangnick
Everything you need to know about the history and tactics of the new Manchester United manager.
Ralph Rangnick will be on the touchline this weekend at Old Trafford as he takes charge of his first match as Manchester United manager.
United host Crystal Palace in a match that will give us great insight in to Rangnick’s tactical set up and how he wishes his United team to play.
Here we discuss Rangnick’s history, and what we can expect to see from his Manchester United team.
Managerial History.
Ralph Rangnick is one of the most well-respected and influential managers in world football.
Rangnick has managed his way across Germany, notably Ulm 1846, Hannover 96, Shalke 04 and Hoffenheim before moving to the Red Bull Group in 2012, becoming director of football for both Red Bull Salzburg and Red Bull Leipzig, and later managing RB Leipzig across two periods.
After leaving Red Bull in 2020, Rangnick joined Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow as Manager of Sports and Development, before leaving his post to take of the reigns at Manchester United.
Rangnick has won titles at Ulm 1846, VfB Stutgart, Hannover 96 and achieved successive promotions at Hoffenheim and Red Bull Leipzig. His ability to manage a football club both on and off the pitch and implement his philosophy and ideas is what has made Rangnick so well respected, and earned his move to Manchester.
Gegenpressing.
Rangnick is often referred to as the "Godfather of Gegenpressing".
What is Gegenpressing?
Put simply, Gegenpressing translates to “counter-pressing” in German, and is a synonymous with Ralph Rangnick.
Gegenpressing is a pressure tactic used by many managers in world football, and is currently popularized by German managers Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, as well as Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola and many more.
The purpose of the tactic is to implement organised and fast-paced pressing to close down the opposition player and win the ball back as quickly as possible.
Ideally, the pressing starts from the forward players in an attempt to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible.
Rangnick is well known for deploying this style of football, which means we can expect a high-tempo, high-pressing Manchester United team that will need to be organized and discipline in their positioning and timing of the press.
Klopp’s Liverpool are currently one of the most recognizable Gegenpressing teams in world football.
Their formation and structure on the pitch is organized to perfection, and pressing always begins with their forwards, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Mohammad Salah.
Formation and Personnel
Under former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United deployed a 4-2-3-1.
Typically this would involve two central, defensive-minded midfielders, alongside creativity and speed in the attacking three, and Cristiano Ronaldo playing up top.
This formation has been heavily criticized under Solskjaer as there has been a lack of stability and protection in their defensive-midfield pairing, and a disconnect with the attackers in front. A lot of the criticism revolves around defensive-midfield pair Fred and Scott McTominay not having the defensive mindset required to play in this formation.
Rangnick’s preferred formation is a 4-4-2 broken down in to 4-2-2-2, and I expect Rangnick to deploy Manchester United in this formation - they certainly have the players to make it work.
Rangnick introduced the 4-2-2-2 to Red Bull Leipzig and Salzberg in his role as Director of Football across the Red Bull group.
The formation allows forwards to play narrowly and closer to goal, weaving between opposition defenses, and also allows for faster pressing and transition.
The formation would allow United’s full-backs Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to push up the pitch, as there is ample room on both flanks to advance due to the lines ahead reducing from three players to two.
The next line up would be two box-to-box midfielders, which may open the door for Donny van de Beek to find a role in the side.
The former Ajax man has been biding his time for an opportunity, and would suit Rangnick’s high-energy style.
Manchester United then have a plethora of talent for their attacking-midfield and striking options.
Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba (when fit) could all slot in to the attacking midfield pairing, while any of Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford or Mason Greenwood could pair up in attack.
Rangnick wants his side to be strong, fast and fit to accommodate the high-energy style they require on the pitch.
In 2018-19, Rangnick’s Red Bull Leipzig squad - which featured Timo Werner, Dayot Upamecano and Yussuf Poulsen - was the youngest squad in the Bundesliga.
This will be pleasing to the ears of van de Beek, Greenwood and Sancho, and I expect to see Rangnick take full advantage of his youthful and talented squad.