Ralf Rangnick is on the verge of becoming Manchester United's replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with an interim role arranged until the end of the current campaign.
The German has a wealth of experience as a coach having dipped in and out of management over the course of the past 40 years, and he is widely deemed as a teacher who transcends the training ground.
Rangnick has a specific vision for his football, with pressing forming the heart of his defensive approach. His trophy cabinet isn't quite as packed as Pep Guardiola's, but his vision for intensity is just as refined.
"High pressing, counter-pressing football," Rangnick says when asked to describe his footballing philosophy. "Fast, proactive, exciting. We do not like back passes to the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper should have the fewest touches."
Considering the basics attached to his perspective on football, it remains to be seen how a certain Cristiano Ronaldo will perform under the 63-year-old.
Ronaldo conflicts with such pressing instructions. Now aged 36, the Portuguese has a tendency to conserve his energy and come alive in the penalty box, while acting as a defensive passenger when United are without possession.
So far this season, the legendary forward has posted a total of just 39 pressures, compared to Phil Foden's 133, for example. Roberto Firmino has posted 93 pressures in England's top-flight this season, despite playing exactly half of Ronaldo's total minutes.
Even when Ronaldo first emerged as a star at Old Trafford, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Park Ji-Sung compensated for his lack of defensive work, according to Gary Neville.
Rangnick is incredibly experienced, but he's never truly been presented with managing megastars in the dressing room given his time at the likes of RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart, and he has always signed emerging talents.
"What is a little bit of pressing? A little bit of pressing is like a little bit of pregnant," said Rangnick. "Either you are pregnant or you are not. Either you want to play pressing or not."
Once the German descends on Manchester in the near future, he could have a decision to make regarding how to use Ronaldo. Is the clinical striker still worth accommodating due to his scoring impact, or should Rangnick field the players who best represent his playing style?
It is a dilemma that impacted Solskjaer's final season at the helm, and one which could decide the rest of United's season.
