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Rio Ferdinand reacts to concerns Cristiano Ronaldo won’t fit in under Ralf Rangnick


Rio Ferdinand believes Cristiano Ronaldo will have problem fitting in under Ralf Rangnick (Picture: BT Sport / Getty)

Rio Ferdinand has played down concerns that new Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick will be unable to effectively manage Cristiano Ronaldo.

The German was confirmed as United’s interim replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Monday, but he is unlikely to be in the dugout in time for Thursday’s game against Arsenal with his Visa application yet to be processed.

Michael Carrick will remain in temporary charge for now and it is almost certain that the former United midfielder will restore Ronaldo to the starting line-up after his surprise decision to drop the 36-year-old to the bench against Chelsea last weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench against Chelsea on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

Managing Ronaldo’s workload and fitting him into his high-octane pressing style will represent one of Rangnick’s toughest tasks, but Ferdinand is confident the 63-year-old is up to the task, despite never having managed a club of United’s stature in the past.

Ferdinand did, however, point to Rangnick’s work at Schalke where he helped prolong the career of former Real Madrid icon Raul, who spent two years with the Bundesliga club.

‘He only stopped coaching at Schalke for a period because he was under stress,’ Ferdinand told Vibe with Five.

Ralf Rangnick managed Raul during his time in charge of Schalke (Picture: Getty)

‘All this talk that he can’t manage Cristiano Ronaldo he had a 35-year-old Raul. A genuine superstar, world class player, big personality and managed him within that team. He performed. It’s a myth.

‘It’s still an ego, it’s still a character, it’s a personality that you’ve got to manage properly so he knows how to do it, he’s done it.

‘All this ‘he’s not going to play Ronaldo’ he played a 35-year-old Raul. Ronaldo I don’t think is the issue I think he’ll find a way that Ronaldo will be able to fit in his team.’

Rangnick, meanwhile, spoke for the first time since his appointment on Monday and emphasised the need for unity if he is to get the best out of the star studded squad he has inherited from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He said: ‘I am excited to be joining Manchester United and focused on making this a successful season for the club.

‘The squad is full of talent and has a great balance of youth and experience. All my efforts for the next six months will be on helping these players fulfil their potential, both individually and, most importantly, as a team.

‘Beyond that, I look forward to supporting the club’s longer-term goals on a consultancy basis.’


MORE : Ralf Rangnick’s trusted assistant Lars Kornetka rejects chance to join Manchester United


MORE : ‘Manchester United fans won’t stand for it’ – Glenn Hoddle sceptical about Michael Carrick’s tactics after Chelsea draw

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