Cristiano Ronaldo had admitted he never saw Ralf Rangnick as his "boss" during the German's time in charge of Manchester United.
The Portugal international, 37, offered his opinion on Rangnick's tenure in his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. The German was appointed as United's interim manager to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last November and left Old Trafford six months later.
Ronaldo has slammed United's decision to appoint Rangnick in the first place, insisting they needed a "top manager" and not a "sports director". The German is a vastly experienced coach with more than 30 years' worth of experience in management and administration.
When asked by Morgan if he called Rangnick "boss", Ronaldo said: "Of course, I respect, we have to call because he assumed the job regardless - all the coaches that I had in my career, I call them boss because if they assume the job we have to call in that way.
"But in the end the deep inside me, I never saw him as the boss because I saw some points that I never agreed."
Rangnick was appointed by United in the wake of their humiliating home defeats to local rivals Liverpool and Manchester City. He was tasked with salvaging a top-four finish in the Premier League and ending the club's five-year wait for silverware.
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"Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football," insisted United's football director John Murtough at the time. "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."
Yet Rangnick failed to get the best out of United's struggling players. They went on to finish sixth in the Premier League table - achieving their lowest points total (58) in 32 years - and failed to go far in either the Champions League or FA Cup.
Rangnick arrived in Manchester with a good CV after spells at Stuttgart, Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig - among other clubs. He was also previously in charge of Red Bull's football operations and became Austria's manager upon leaving United in the summer.
Yet Rangnick had never coached one of Europe's biggest clubs and lacked winners' medals. Ronaldo has questioned United's decision to appoint him in the first place by labelling him a "sports director".
When asked if Rangnick knew what he was doing, Ronaldo said: "No, they [Rangnick's backroom staff] don't. They knew with the club, very well. But they don't know the main dimension of the club inside, the history of the club. Which is, for me, surprised me even more. Which is when you sack Ole Solskjaer, you should bring a top manager, not a sports director."
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