United choose the next manager in aconsidered fashion – Murtough

appointed Ralf Rangnick as interim manager after they decided to part ways with former boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.

The club is set to choose the next permanent manager at the end of the season and so far,

boss Mauricio Pochettino and

head coach Erik ten Hag are reported to be the leading candidates.

Speaking about the Red Devils’ next permanent manager on a fans' forum, Man Utd football director John Murtough said that the process is going to be ‘careful and considered’.

"Out of respect for Ole, we did not approach other managers before he left,”

Murtough said.

"Our plan then was to appoint an experienced interim manager and Ralf was our clear first choice.

"He's someone I have admired for a long time, and we're delighted he's here. By bringing in Ralf, we can now take time to run a thorough process for our next permanent manager.

"Recruiting a manager is one of the most important decisions a football club makes, so we want to do it in a careful and considered fashion."

Reflecting on Solskjaer’s departure, Murtough added:

"There were grounds for confidence that we were going to continue building on the progress we saw in the prior two seasons.

"After the promising early-season results, things went off plan.

"As a club, we felt Ole had earned the right to be given the chance to turn things round, but didn't get a reaction after the international break, and the Watford game made it clear change was needed.

"We're all disappointed at Ole's departure, but he deserves to be judged on his record over the past three years, not his last few weeks.

"He reset the club's culture and reshaped the squad, leaving us in a stronger position today than when he returned in 2018."

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