Former Germany striker Gerald Asamoah described Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s coaching methods as “crazy” to get the focus of the players.
Asamoah, who played under Rangnick at former Bundesliga giants Schalke, was part of the Die Knappen side that was steered to the 2011 Champions League semi-final, where he was beaten 6-1 on aggregate by Sir Alex Ferguson’s rampant United side.
Fast forward ten years, the German manager is now at the helm at Old Trafford, where he has begun his reign with two steady Premier League victories.
And it appears Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, and co. should prepare themselves, for some rather crazy coaching techniques and methods while Rangnick is in charge.
"Rangnick did things that I'd never seen before," Asamoah told ESPN.
"He had some crazy ideas. I remember once before a game, we were sitting there and he came into the changing room ringing a bell.
"He did it to get our focus on the game ahead. But it worked, and we believed in his plans, and we became successful again."
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Despite his exuberant coaching style, Rangnick and Asamoah did enjoy some relative success at the Veltins-Arena.
Shortly after their stunning Champions League campaign was ended, they went on to win the 2011 German Cup, as well as the German Super Cup in the 2011-12 season.
And Asamoah also believed Rangnick’s ability to effectively communicate with young players just as well as he could with senior stars, is also something which sets him apart from most managers.
"He had time to explain things to the young players," Asamoah added.
"With older players, we already have our ideas of how we want to play soccer; with younger players, he can help them see the game as he wants them to.
“He knows how to talk to them, how to teach them, and how they get to."
Rangnick took over the reins at Old Trafford on the 1st December, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked by the Premier League giants.
United appear to be responding well to the former RB Leipzig manager’s demands, as he has registered to 1-0 victories at home to Crystal Palace, and away to Norwich City in his first two Premier League matches.
The 63-year-old’s current arrangement with the club, is that he will be in temporary charge until the end of the season, where he will then take up a consultancy position within the club for two years.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane appear to be the two names touted to become the next permanent manager at Old Trafford.
Ajax’s Erik Ten Hag and Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers have also been frequently linked with the United job in recent months.
However, Rangnick’s arrival, as well as a few helpful results elsewhere, appear to have dragged United back into contention for the top four.
They currently trail fourth place Arsenal by two points, however, they do hold a game in hand over Mikel Arteta’s side, as a result of their away trip to Brentford being postponed, amid a surge in Coronavirus cases.
