Harry Maguire has named the only Manchester United player he remembers who performed well under former interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Ralf Rangnick’s tenure at Manchester United will be remembered for the unfulfilled promises, tactics that backfired, and worsened results on the pitch.
The German coach was brought in to stabilise the dressing room following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Rangnick was unable to implement his pressing philosophy, and he never filled the consultancy role that was created for him at the end of his reign as interim manager.
United finished the season in sixth place with 58 points and a zero-goal difference, failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Rangnick has since become the manager of the Austria national team.
Ralf Rangnick press conference
Photo by Vasile Mihai-Antonio – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Harry Maguire reflects on Ralf Rangnick reign
Harry Maguire was the club captain under Rangnick.
It was a difficult time in Maguire’s career because United were losing on the pitch, and he was regularly making mistakes.
Reflecting on the 2021/22 season, Maguire claims Cristiano Ronaldo was the only player to perform that year when everyone else underperformed under Rangnick.
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“We signed Varane, Sancho, Ronaldo that summer, the expectation was to go on and challenge and kick on, but it never happened, it never clicked,” Maguire told Discover+.
“Yeah, I think everyone’s performances dipped, except for Cristiano who still did what he did and scored that many goals that season. I was the captain, I was the face, I was the one who faced the media after every game.”
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United have had two permanent managers since Rangnick, including Erik ten Hag.
Ruben Amorim is now head coach, with United sitting sixth in the Premier League.
What did Cristiano Ronaldo say about Ralf Rangnick?
Although Ronaldo performed under Rangnick, he was highly critical of the Austria coach during his infamous interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022.
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Harry Maguire celebrates scoring for Manchester United.
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Ronaldo questioned Rangnick’s credentials and said he lacked authority as United manager.
“This guy is not even a coach,” Ronaldo said.
“All the coaches that I had in my career, I call them boss because if they assume the job we have to call them in that way. But deep inside me, I never saw him as the boss.”
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