“Been at Manchester United before won’t alter my love for Timo Werner”: Formal Utd boss Ralf Ragnick has shown his support and love for Timo Werner by hinting Ange Postecoglou on how he could turn him into a ‘superstar’
Tottenham Hotspur could unleash new signing Timo Werner on Manchester United this afternoon and Ralf Rangnick may pay close attention.
Spurs have been in strong form of late, losing just one of their last five Premier League games whilst winning the other four.
Ange Postecoglou continues to impress as Tottenham boss and is now looking to do the double over United having secured a 2-0 win over Erik ten Hag in August.
Spurs do still have a number of injury problems but now international absentees, but Postecoglou has two new faces to call upon this afternoon.
Defender Radu Dragusin could be involved after signing from Genoa and forward Timo Werner will be available having joined from RB Leipzig.
Ralf Rangnick is a big fan of Tottenham Hotspur striker Timo Werner
Werner could have so easily been lining up against Tottenham today.
Sky Germany reported earlier in January that Manchester United had registered an interest in signing Werner.
The idea was for Werner to come in and support Rasmus Hojlund up top, but Tottenham managed to swoop in and secure his signature.
Werner may start from the bench today but Postecoglou has already been told exactly how to use him – by a former Manchester United boss.
Ralf Rangnick didn’t get results as a United boss, but his assertion that the club needed ‘open heart surgery’ has been proven correct.
Rangnick knows all about Werner from the Red Bull setup too and has previously spoken about how to get the best out of him.
Chelsea certainly didn’t see the best of Werner and Rangnick was quoted by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg as saying that Werner needs ‘trust and the absolute backing’ of his manager in order to play to his maximum capacity.
Rangnick also feels that Werner is best when paired with another striker, as he was for much of his first spell with RB Leipzig.
“In order to play at his performance limit, Timo needs trust and the absolute backing of the trainer,” said Rangnick. “I see him as one of two strikers at his strongest and most effective,” he added.
We can be confident that Werner has the full backing of Postecoglou, who loves real pace in the final third.
Werner hasn’t been at his best for a few years now but Tottenham’s fast-paced attacking football could be ideal for him.
We aren’t quite so sure about Werner playing up top with another striker though.
Postecoglou mostly plays a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system, utilising a lone striker with support from the flanks.
Werner could play up top or out wide in those systems and certainly shouldn’t find himself isolated in the final third.
Postecoglou likely has a plan in mind for Werner anyway, but those words from Rangnick may well be taken on board as Werner prepares to start his Tottenham career.
