Man Utd Manager, Rangnick Appoints New Coach, Psychologist

Following his appointment as Manchester United interim manager, Ralf Rangnick has appointed Chris Armas as his assistant coach and Sascha Lense as the club’s psychologist.

Rangnick made the appointments known on Tuesday during his pre-match conference ahead of United’s Champions League clash with Young Boys at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The United boss said he worked with Armas when he was Red Bull’s head of sport and development during Armas’ reign as head coach between 2018 to 2020.

Rangnick stated that he also worked with Lense at RB Leipzig, expressing hope that the two appointees can help the team to more success.

He said: “We have decided to bring in a sports psychologist, Sascha Lense, I worked with him for three years at Leipzig,” Rangnick said. “We know each other. He will be introduced to the team as soon as he’s got his visa. I hope we’ll have him on board by Thursday.

“I will also have another assistant coach with Chris Armas. He was at New York Red Bulls when I met him. He will again hopefully be able to join us in the next few days.”

On the need for a sports psychologist, Rangnick said: “I don’t know what the situation is like in England. Most German clubs have employed a psychologist. For me it is logical. If you have special coaches for goalkeeping, strikers, fitness, you should also have an expert for the brain.

“Not to put them on the red sofa, or hold hands, for me it’s about helping the players know the brain should assist the body, not work against it. For me everyone in the team should think the right way. Whenever we speak about football, the major part is up here [the brain].

“He’s a former player, hands-on, not caught too much in the theory. Having worked together at Leipzig I know we can benefit from him. For me it’s vital on the top level you should have the best person possible on this job.”