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Rangnick open to longer stay a...

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Rangnick open to longer stay as United manager, positive on Ronaldo


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New Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has admitted he may wish to stay on as manager of the club beyond next summer. 

The 63 year old German has been appointed until the end of the season, before he will take up a two year consultancy role with the club.

He was at Old Trafford last night to watch United beat Arsenal 3-2 in the Premier League.

His first game in charge will be at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

At his first press conference, Rangnick intimated that he could be interested in continuing as manager beyond his current arrangement.

"The people with whom I have spoken so far - they have been very clear that we are talking about a six and a half month role as a manager, currently.

"We have never spoken about what will happen in the summer.

"Right now I am fully aware that they might be looking for a new manager.

"If they will then speak with me about that, we will see.

"Maybe if they ask me my opinion - and everything goes well, I might even make the same recommendation to the board that I did at Leipzig twice, when I recommended to them that it might be a good idea to keep working with me for one year - but this is all hypothetical. For me now it is about winning the next games and this is the major focus."

Rangnick revealed that he spoke to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for two almost two hours as the outgoing manager gave his insight into the team.

The German was asked if he had to adapt his philosophy to incorporate striker Cristiano Ronaldo into the side.

The Portuguese has scored 12 goals in 16 games this season.

"You always have to adapt your style or your idea of football to the players you have available.

"Having seen Cristiano yesterday in the second half, at the age of 36 - at his age, I have never seen a player that is still that physically fit. He is still a player who can easily make the difference.

"It's about how can we develop the whole team. It's not only about Cristiano, we play in the most competitive league in the world - so we need all the players on board. What I saw from Cristiano yesterday, he is more than willing to do that, to input into the team."

Rangnick says his immediate aim is for United to concede fewer goals.

"The major target for me in the next couple of weeks is to bring more balance into the team. Even yesterday we conceded two goals - we needed three goals in the end to win the game. If you look at the total number of goals conceded it's almost two on average per game and this is just too much.

"Yesterday's game was exciting for the fans, but as the future coach those are not the games you need every day. In football for me, it is to minimize the coincidence factor and have control of the game."

United are currently seventh in the Premier League, three points off the top four.

They are also in the last 16 of the Champions League.


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