Rangnick OK for Man Utd open heart surgery

Rio Ferdinand admitted that former Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick was right that the club needed open heart surgery as the Red Devils’ struggles continued.

United were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United on Monday, which means they will finish 2024 in 14th place, their lowest position at the turn of the year in the league since 1989.

Monday’s loss also saw the Red Devils lose three consecutive home league games for the first time since 1979, leaving them just seven points clear of the bottom three.

Ruben Amorim has also had a difficult start to his time at United, having overseen five defeats in his first eight league games in charge, the worst record for a United manager in 103 years.

As Ferdinand shared the ongoing issues at United, his mind was thrown back to the Rangnick era – who was caretaker manager for 29 games in 2021-22.

The German coach suggested the club needed a serious change of direction on and off the pitch, with Ferdinand agreeing with Rangnick’s comments two years later.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, he said: “Ralf Rangnick said open heart surgery was needed, not a quick fix. He wasn’t wrong!

“How true do those words ring now? He was vilified and ridiculed when he said those words. He was so right.

“And I think Amorim would be sitting there behind closed doors and thinking the same thing.”

Ferdinand also urged Amorim to make United’s stars “uncomfortable” and stick to his tactical approach despite their struggling form in the new year.

Since Amorim’s first game in charge, only Southampton (seven) have lost more games in all competitions among Premier League clubs than the Red Devils (six).

They have also scored the most goals together (21, level with Tottenham), but Ferdinand has insisted that Amorim should stick to his guns to get them out of their current rut.

“You look at him, and you go, ‘He still seems pretty confident (in the) long term. He’s not going to change his short term ideas’.” And I totally agree,” added Ferdinand.

“If it changes and goes back to what they were doing before… it’s not like they’re winning! So why would it go back to what it is?” r players more comfortable with it?

“I think his whole point – and I have to agree with him – is that if this team were trained and understood the system, then I think they have a chance of being able to achieve what he wants.

“I don’t think we can expect Amorim to go back to type, to what they were playing before, to try to stabilize the ship. Because it wasn’t a steady ship anyway.

“I really believe he has to keep doing what he’s doing. He said there will be initial problems – maybe not as much as what we’re having now – but I don’t think it’s understand what he was doing.

“The scars that many of the players have as individuals – and as a team – are so big and so deep, it’s going to take a long time to come back.”

14 – In the history of the Premier League, four teams that were 14th at the turn of the year have subsequently been relegated (Newport in 2008-09, Burnley in 2009-10, Norwich in 2013-14 and Leeds in 2022-23). Warning. pic.twitter.com/gwNqMLldR4

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2024