Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has reacted to Erik ten Hag’s appointment as his successor, saying that he hasn’t met the 52-year-old in person, but is confident that the Premier League club will improve under the Dutch coach’s reign. Notably, United have appointed Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as the new manager who will take over the club starting this summer until 2025, with an option to extend for a year.

Interim manager Ralf Rangnick will reportedly assume a sporting role within the club, and work together with the Dutchman.

“We don’t know each other in person. From what I’ve seen of him with Bayern Munich and Ajax now, I like his football and I’m pretty positive with a full pre-season and having the chance to build and mold his own staff with a new team. I’m pretty sure we’ll see a different team and improvement on the pitch,” Ralf Rangnick told Sky Sports in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Arsenal.

Manchester United will face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday after losing 4-0 to Liverpool earlier this week at Anfield. Mikel Arteta’s men are coming into this game after beating Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal have been able to turn the corner after defeats to Crystal Palace, Southampton, Liverpool, and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manchester United are sitting sixth in the Premier League table, three points behind North Londoners Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal (57) in fourth and fifth respectively. Spurs are only ahead on goal difference. A win over the Gunners is crucial for the Red Devils in their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Manchester United did beat Arsenal 3-2 in the reverse fixture when Michael Carrick was in charge, but they have only won twice in their last seven visits to the Emirates. The Red Devils have lost their last three games away from home, and Rangnic’s men are still waiting for their first clean sheet on the road since the turn of the year.

Ralf Rangnick said that Arsenal have a good core of young players, praising Martin Odegard who has 6 goals and 4 assists to his name in 30 league appearances this season.

“I think they drew the right conclusions from what they experienced earlier on in the season. They brought in some young players. Odegaard for example, they got rid of some players who didn’t fit that style of football. It’s a high attacking team with fast strikers, pretty aggressive in the first third, always trying to press and counter-press,” he said.

Arsenal are one of the most exciting teams to watch this season with players like Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli at the helm for Mikel Arteta. They play exciting, attacking football, which Rangnick hopes is not the case tomorrow against Man United.

“I like watching them actually, but hopefully not against us tomorrow, so it’s up to us to be aware and prepared of what they’re doing upfront, but at the same time, taking advantage of the space that we will hopefully get in their half,” he added.

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