Ralf Rangnick sought feedback on Erik ten Hag from contacts who had worked with the Ajax coach before Manchester United appointed the Dutchman as their next manager.
Ten Hag, 52, has signed a three-year contract with the option of an additional year after impressing the United football director John Murtough, technical director Darren Fletcher and chief executive Richard Arnold, who was involved in the latter stages of the process.
Rangnick is due to stay on at United for two more years as a consultant and confirmed he gave feedback to the United powerbreakers.
Read more: Rangnick gives team news vs Arsenal
"We don't know each other in person, we haven't met as yet in person," Rangnick said of Ten Hag. "From what I've seen him do at Bayern Munich when he was the Under-23 coach and Ajax now, I like his football and I'm pretty positive that with a full pre-season, with having the chance to build and mould his own staff, also a new team, which is obvious, we will have a new team. With a full pre-season, I am pretty sure we will see a different team and improvement on the pitch.
"I knew that Erik was one of the candidates the board spoke to and obviously I told them, at least from what I had seen and knew from people who had worked with Erik, that I think he would be a good choice and I still believe he will be a very good choice.
"All of the other things we haven't had time to speak about."
Rangnick said in the wake of the 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool United could need up to '10 new players' due to the six out of contract players and number of wantaways under contract.
On Saturday, United travel to Arsenal, who impressively beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night to go three points clear of United with a game in hand.
Should United lose at the Emirates Stadium, their Champions League qualifying chances would be all but over with four more fixtures remaining after the Arsenal match.
"It's obvious there are quite a few players whose contracts are expiring," Rangnick explained. "There might be a few others who, although they still have contracts, are on loan might still want to be on loan or leave the club.
"It will be a significant change and rebuild necessary, that's clear. But how many players and which positions, I haven't spoken to Erik in person as yet but if he asks me for my opinion in person I'm ready and willing to speak to him about my experience.
"He will have his own ideas. It's not three or four players, it's obvious, bearing in mind how many contracts are expriing."
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