Rangnick confirms two imminent Man United backroom appointments
Ralf Rangnick has confirmed two imminent additions to his backroom team at Manchester United.
The German arrived at Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s interim managerial successor last week following Michael Carrick’s caretaker stint in charge, winning his first match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
While Carrick subsequently relinquished his role as first-team coach and left the club in something of a surprise, the likes of Mike Phelan, Darren Fletcher and Kieran McKenna all remain from the old coaching regime.
Rangnick was expected to confirm his own backroom additions in due course and confirmed speculation at a press conference held before Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Young Boys that former American international and New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC head coach Chris Armas would be arriving as assistant coach.
Sport psychologist Sascha Lense is also set to join United, but Rangnick insists there won’t be sweeping changes behind the scenes.
“It won’t be that many,” Rangnick said of his backroom additions. “So far I’m very happy to work with the staff I have met last week and they gave me a lot of help in the last couple of days in preparation of the Crystal Palace game.
“We have decided to bring in a sport psychologist with Sascha Lense. He’s from Germany, he is a former Second Division player. I used to work with him for three years at Leipzig.
“He will be introduced to the team as soon as he’s got his visa and work permit, so I very much hope that we will have him on board either tomorrow or at the latest on Thursday.
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“I will also have one other assistant coach with Chris Armas, who used to be the assistant coach at the New York Red Bulls under Jesse Marsch. That was five years ago when I first met him.
“Since then we have met quite frequently, also in my role as head of global for Red Bull.
“For the last three-and-a-half years he was head coach for the New York Red Bulls and for Toronto in the MLS and he will again hopefully be able to join us in our next two days.”