Ralf Rangnick sends warning to ‘significantly worse’ Man Utd ahead of Athletic Bilbao clash

Former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick claims the club is nowin a ‘significantly worse’ place than when he left it three years ago.

And despite their big win in the Europa League, he has warned the Red Devils of the huge threat Athletic Bilbao pose ahead of the return-leg.

United have one foot in the Europa League final after a 3-0 win away to 10-man Bilbao, with Ruben Amorim hoping to get the job done without any major panic at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Victory in Europe will bring some joy to an otherwise terrible campaign, with United to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League with their lowest points tally in the competition’s history.

Even if they won their four remaining games, Amorim’s side would finish on 51 points – seven shy of their previous lowest tally that was achieved in 2021/22 when Rangnick was in charge.

The German was hired part way through that campaign as an interim manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking and would win just 11 of his 29 games.

Rangnick, who infamously stated that United needed ‘open-heart surgery’, was due to stay at Old Trafford in a consultancy role but instead left to take charge of the Austria national team.

While many, including Cristiano Ronaldo, were critical of the 66-year-old and United’s decision to hire him, he has had the last laugh.

Asked what had gone wrong at his former club, Rangnick told Canal+: ‘A few fundamental things needed to be changed [when I was there].

‘And since then £750million has been spent on new players. And in the table they are even significantly worse than back then.

‘They could actually, only with a win in the Europa League, still save this season, because then they will be in the Champions League. Everything else would be a disappointment, and it will be interesting to see what will happen.

‘They have signed a coach [Amorim] in the middle of the season who plays with three or five backs, and the squad was built based on a four-back system.

‘This is what you see when you see them play, especially in Premier League games against the opponents against which Manchester United normally has to win.’

Rangnick made his comments before the impressive win in Bilbao but United would be foolish to consider the tie over, with the German adding that Athletic have a world-class player at their disposal.

‘Sure, in the Europa League, they have… usually with the result against Lyon, you are eliminated. They turned it around. And of course, the stadium had a huge effect,’ he added.

‘But it will be interesting against Bilbao. You are actually favourite from the size of the clubs but with Nico Williams, Bilbao has a an absolutely exceptional player on a similar level as Lamine Yamal.’

Before the Bilbao rematch, United travel to Brentford for a Premier League clash on Sunday.

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