Ralf Rangnick faces an anxious wait to discover if he will be able to take charge of Manchester United’s Premier League game against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Thursday after being announced as the club’s new interim manager on a six-month contract.
The 63-year-old German is awaiting formal approval of a visa and that process, coupled with the need to self-isolate until he has returned a negative PCR test under new rules for foreign travellers, has raised some doubts over whether he will be in the dug-out for the visit of Arsenal.
United announced the appointment of Rangnick on Monday morning, confirming he will arrive as interim manager until the end of the season before continuing in a consultancy role for a further two years.
John Murtough, Manchester United football director, said: “Ralf is one of the most respected coaches and innovators in European football. 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.
“Everyone at the club is looking forward to working with him during the season ahead, and then for a further two years in his advisory role.”
Rangnick watched Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea on television in Germany and is due to travel to Manchester this week.
Under new government guidelines, fully vaccinated travellers arriving after 4am on Tuesday must book a PCR test with a private provider to be taken on arrival or one of the two following days and will have to self-isolate until a negative test is received. Lateral flow tests are no longer accepted and PCR tests are slower to process.
United are hoping the visa and testing situation will be free of complications and Rangnick will be able to take charge of his first game, against Arsenal, but there is a chance he will not be able to take formal control of the team until Crystal Palace visit Old Trafford on Sunday. There are not believed to be any issues or delays in relation to ratification of the visa but there is a process to be followed that cannot be cut short.
