Former interim boss of Manchester United Ralf Rangnick has saved the progress of the Red Devils since his departure in 2022.
After United has achieved an impressive 3-0 win over Atletico Bilbao in the semi-final first stage of the Europa League that put them in line to continue later this month to the final.
Although the dramatic European campaign shuns their gloomy efforts at home, and the recent seasons disappointing. United is 14th in the top flight and are on track to record their worst Premier League campaign ever.
United Boss Ruben Amorim – whose preferred play style three central defenders and two wingbacks required – is forced to rely on players signed by his predecessor Erik ten Hag. And the recruits were acquired at major costs.
Since Rangnick had no problems with the emphasis, the club has spoken more than £ 600 million since the exit of the Austrian. Rangnick, who said famous that the club needed 'open heart surgery' during its six -month stint, quoted a figure as high as £ 750 million in his destructive assessment of the current condition of his former club.
“In the end. That a few basic issues must be changed and since then 700 or not £ 750 million has been spent on new players, “he told Canal + Austria. And in the table they are even considerably worse than then.
'They could still save this season with a victory in the Europa League. Because they are then in the Champions League.
'Everything else would be a disappointment and it will be interesting to see what will happen. They have signed a coach in the middle of the season that plays with a three or five backs, and the team was built on the basis of a four-back system.
'This is what you see when you see them playing, especially in Premier League matches against the opponents against which Manchester United should normally win.
'Of course, in the Europa League they have – usually with the result against Lyon, eliminated you – they turned it around. And of course the stadium had a huge effect. '
In the years that have followed his departure, Rangnick's statements during the club proved particularly visible.
Not only did the club solve massive costs on Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro under the ten hag, but they continued to hand out enormous wages.
So the situation in Old Trafford is that owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe admitted that brutal cuts were needed to prevent the club bust from going. In March he revealed that United still owed money on Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana, and admits that some of them 'have too much' or are not good enough to play for the club.
“This summer we'll” buy “Antony, we will” buy “Sancho, we will” buy “Casemiro, we will” buy “Martinez, we'll buy” Hojlund “, we'll” buy “, and they are all about £ 17 million,” he said.
'If we don't buy anyone, we buy those players. It is not a light switch (which can be switched off).
'These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we have inherited those things and have to figure it out.
'For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half of his wages, we pay £ 17 million to buy it in the summer.
“Some are not good enough and some have probably been paid too much, but for us to form the team for which we are fully responsible and are responsible, will take time.”
The limitations have made it difficult for Amorim to make a team that is able to effectively implement its fairly unique requirements.
The Portuguese could only sign one first team in January and brought the young wing-back Patrick Dorgu from Leece for 29.4 million. The Denmark International has made a considerable start of life at the club and played a role in their recent victory in Bilbao.
The ranknick assessment that United was favorites for their collision against the LaLiga side that was demolished in the result of the first leg. The 3-0 win, thanks to Casemiro's headers and a Fernandes-Brace, has given the side a real chance to save something from their miserable season.
Qualification for the Champions League, achieved by winning the Europa League, would yield a windfall in the £ 80 million region that would go a long way to illuminate financial pressure at the club.
“Nobody expected this result, but it's not ready,” said Amorim. 'The same result can happen at Old Trafford and we must be prepared.
'There are no road goals (rule), so everything can change and that is my message to the players.
'I think they should think of the second stage, and they have to think more about the first 20 minutes than the rest of the game. We struggled a lot in the beginning, but the goal and the red card changed the game. '