“He’s never managed in England.” Paul Merson.
“He’s never managed in England” or “What does he know about the English game?” are probably two of my most hated statements in football…Well…English Football media. I would add, with my most insincere apologies to Paul Merson…It is also one of the stupidest statements in football!
I would actually love to question what people like Paul Merson know about the English game. I know, these blokes all hold such high regard amongst the Daily Mail readers and White Van Men of the football audience, but personally I can’t stand it! I can’t stand them!
(Stops self from ranting…Collects thoughts…Restarts Blog)
So, consider this…Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, the two previous winners of the Premier League, have both indirectly been influenced by Ralf Rangnick’s theory of the game. Thomas Tuchel, the current Champions League winning manager, has directly been influenced by the Ralf Rangnick’s theory. Throw in Ralph Hasenhüttl, Julian Nagelsmann, Jesse Marsch and Hansi Flick, to name just a few well known names, plus the many names that many football fans will be less familiar with and indeed it is clear the man has influenced enough coaches to be worth the hype.
There is something ironic about his theory though…It isn’t even his. He doesn’t even claim it to be. Any “Inverting the Pyramid” readers will already know that organised Pressing was invented by the legendary Dynamo Kiev manager Valeriy Lobanovskiy. It was in a 1983 friendly match that Rangnick first came across the style and supposedly Gegenpressing was born.
I think a more valuable question to ask the next time somebody says “What does he know about the English game?” would be “What is the English game?”. Is it pressing? As any watcher of Manchester City or Liverpool would possibly believe? But what about Possession? Manchester City and Liverpool do very different things with that. So is it Tika-Taka? What about Conte and his evolved Catenaccio ideas? What about the tactical nous of Mourinho and Benitez? Are we to ignore the influence they had on English football, just because it is not in vogue at the moment. Do we ignore Wenger? Do we ignore Ancelotti? Did the Netherlands and Total Futbol not have anything to say on English football?
That is just the thing! English football is classically kick and rush! Yet, very few teams play that way and I would argue none of the Premier League winning teams have played that way at all! Consider English Football…or more specifically Premier League Football, more of a mixing bowl. The argument is as redundant as asking what Guardiola, Klopp, Mourinho and more could all do if they just didn’t have all that pesky money swashing around. Who actually cares?
I’m guessing if you are putting down your Daily Mail, pulled over in your white van or someone who hates how “money has ruined the game” you’ve stopped reading and deleted every trace of my work by now. Thank God! For the rest of you, I will now explain my Title of this piece.
Ralf Rangnick, is not actually that successful as a coach. As I am sure you are aware by now, he most recently managed Schalke in top flight football, and he stepped down from there in 2011 with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Rangnick’s real success has always been behind the scenes, but this is probably why all reports of what he will do next season from Manchester United have been very vague. Manchester United’s hierarchy aren’t really, very good at making good footballing decisions, so the thought of a combustible, autocratic, straight talking, leading football brain being in charge probably scares them a lot! Add to that the change of chief executive at the club and it just isn’t the right time for definitive decision making, but one gets the feeling at clubs like Manchester United “definitive decision making” is not a word they have on any inspirational banners around Carrington or Old Trafford’s offices.
But there is not a doubt in my mind, I would be handing him the keys and walking away to go work on some sponsorship deals if I was the incoming chief executive Richard Arnold!
If you look at the work Rangnick first did at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in not only getting them to the Bundesliga, but what he did with their coaching philosophy, analysis department and giving chances to young players. Over the years of his career he has continually given young players such as Sejad Salihović, Demba Ba, Alexander Hleb and even Arsenal’s current young star Emile Smith all chances and influenced their brilliant careers.
Take a look at the entire Red Bull Football group and it is basically what Manchester United could expect with a Rangnick run empire. A group of clubs that have a shared philosophy of play, recruitment, business model, network that stretches the globe. Look at the players that have come through Red Bull clubs, players like Sadio Mane, Dayot Upamecano, Erling Haaland, Naby Keita, Joshua Kimmich and Timo Werner to name just a few. This could be Manchester United!
Whilst I do admit, I hope Ralf is a success in the manager role he currently occupies (only to shove it to Paul Merson et al.) I really think he is the right man in the wrong role. Hopefully, Manchester United find an ounce of sense between them and give him all the footballing power in West Manchester!
Hopper ✌⚽
Andrew Hopper-Davies Football blog 