Rangnick sends message to Man Utd fans in programme notes

Ralf Rangnick has told Manchester United's supporters he is at the club to further their current squad, insisting it has been an "average season".

The German will take charge of the team for the first time on Sunday afternoon when Crystal Palace head to Old Trafford.

Rangnick has watched on as Michael Carrick picked up two wins and a draw from his three games as the helm, with the 63-year-old in the stands for Thursday's win over Arsenal.

Now he will assume the reins and attempt to bridge the gap that currently exists to the top four.

A poor run of results cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job, with a 4-1 defeat at Watford proving the final straw for the Old Trafford board.

Rangnick arrives with a glowing reputation, having pioneered many of the ideas that are common practice today.

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His coaching methods have allowed players to thrive over the years and he hopes to do so again on the red half of Manchester.

He said in his programme notes, as per United Review: "Good afternoon. Managing Manchester United, even in an interim capacity, is a massive challenge but, to me, this feels like I am in the right place at the right time.

"I have been here at Old Trafford before, as an opposition manager with Schalke in the 2011 Champions League semi-finals, while also watching matches from the stands on other occasions.

"I also visited Manchester a couple of times while my eldest son spent three months studying at university here, and I am delighted to be back again.

"Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is so much history here, so many titles won, so many great players produced and developed.

"Right now, I am here because development is what needs to happen again. Nobody at the club is happy to be where we are in the Premier League table.

"It has been an average season so far, there is no avoiding that, but this club has players who are much better than the position we currently occupy and it is my job to improve those players and that position."

Rangnick was able to have a training session with his players prior to his Premier League debut.

He is unlikely to have made wholesale changes to their style of play, with any developments set to be judged over a longer period.

After Sunday's game with Palace the Red Devils face a run of Premier League games against Norwich City, Brentford, Brighton and Newcastle United.