Murtough outlines what Man Utd expect from Rangnick as interim boss appointed

Manchester United 's technical director, John Murtough, says Ralf Rangnick was the Red Devils' "number one" target to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on an interim basis.

The acclaimed German coach has agreed a six-month deal as temporary manager, before heading into a consultancy role for at least two years, beginning with helping select the next permanent boss.

Rangnick, who has arrived after being sporting director at Lokomotiv Moscow, brings with him a wealth of experience in the game and "invaluable leadership and technical skills."

Murtough stated in a press release: "Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football.

"He was our number one candidate for interim manager, reflecting the invaluable leadership and technical skills he will bring from almost four decades of experience in management and coaching.

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"Everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him during the season ahead, and then for a further two years in his advisory role."

Rangnick himself 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."

Michael Carrick is expected to remain caretaker manager for United's match at home to Arsenal on Thursday, with Rangnick still awaiting a work visa.

Speaking ahead of his side's 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, Carrick insisted that Rangnick would be able to make an immediate impact, saying: "You can get ideas across pretty quickly.

"I think history shows that. Sometimes it's not just the ideas but just a different voice, maybe, or a freshness.

"History proves that, for whatever reason. Again, looking back at history, sometimes it works really well, sometimes not so well, that's just the nature of life."

The former midfielder was also keen to praise Solskjaer's foundations which Rangnick and the eventual permanent manager will benefit from, adding: "I think that's one of the biggest things in Ole's time as manager here, over time, creating and building on the environment and the backroom staff, the culture within the group that people don't see day to day.

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"It's not obvious to the eye but I think you could see that over time, as a team, we were improving, we had a good finish last season, and once results started going, it went pretty quickly in terms of losing games which is a shame because everything else can kind of get overshadowed by losses like that.

"But it's still there and the culture's still there.

"And, this week, the backroom staff and the environment that Ole had such a huge part in building has helped me an awful lot this week so, whatever happens next, it's there for sure and it's a great starting point."