BT Sport pundit Joe Cole says he is concerned that a misaligned transfer strategy could hinder Erik ten Hag‘s ability to be a success at Manchester United.
Ralf Rangnick, who is set to take up an advisory role at the club tasked with identifying transfer targets, prefers a high pressing style of play, which is a contrast to ten Hag’s playing philosophy. Cole believes that if Rangnick is the one recommending signings, it may hinder ten Hag’s chances of building a team:
“We look at Ralf Rangnick, go backwards three months when he came in and we talk about this great pressing team, they play this type of football. And then what does Ten Hag’s team play? They play slow, methodical build-up football so you’ve already flip-flapped [sic] from what he was.”
“That doesn’t seem like a match made in heaven. Ralf Rangnick, if he steps upstairs his natural inkling will be to get types of players that are aggressive, physical, on the front foot, pressing… and Ten Hag might want, I’m not saying Jorginho, but like a Jorginho, a build-up technician player.”
“For me the problems… unless they sort out what’s going on around Ten Hag, the structure is just going to be another manager that comes in and another manager that fails at Man United. Unless that structure around him is in place and the fans are on board, the players are on board.”
It is a surprisingly insightful comment from Cole, who seems to be raising an issue that nobody else has really thought about. Rangnick’s role after his time as interim head coach has yet to be really defined, and it is hard to know how the relationship will work. Reports do suggest that ten Hag will have the final say on transfers if he is appointed so, hopefully, that should address the problem to some extent.
