Incoming Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is in the stands at Selhurst Park to watch his new side face Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
The Red Devils need to beat Palace on Sunday afternoon to be certain of finishing in sixth spot in the Premier League table, which would see them qualify for the group stage of the 2022-23 Europa League.
The match will mark Ralf Rangnick's final game at the helm, as the interim head coach prepares to step aside for Ten Hag, who only finished managing Ajax last weekend.
Ten Hag was pictured arriving at Selhust Park on Sunday, and the Dutchman is sitting alongside Man United's football director John Murtough in the stands.
"We've been in contact via WhatsApp and hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet and speak in person, either at the weekend or Monday morning at the latest," Rangnick told reporters on Friday afternoon when asked about Ten Hag. "I'm looking forward to speaking to him in person and getting to know him in person."
Rangnick is set to become Austria's new head coach, but the German will also still be contracted to Man United as a consultant, and the 63-year-old is confident that he can be an asset in his new role.
"We spoke about that in detail (new position), about all the different areas where I could maybe be of help. It's not that easy or not that difficult to know in which areas this could be," Rangnick said. "I think we showed that in the last 15 years with Hoffenheim, Salzburg and Leipzig, even for clubs not as prominent as Manchester United, it's possible to identify, develop and even at one stage sell.
"I know Manchester United is not a selling club but rather a developing and buying club, but this is possible and this is what is most important, that the club finds players for whom it is the next next logical step is in their career, to develop their sporting career.
"If that happens, I can be positive and I can hopefully be encouraging for our fans that we will bring United back to the top."
Ten Hag is due to officially begin work in Manchester on Monday, but the Dutchman will take a break before the start of pre-season, having stepped straight into work following the Eredivisie campaign.
Mitchell van der Gaag and Steve McClaren are expected to soon be confirmed as part of Ten Hag's staff at Old Trafford.
The 52-year-old enjoyed a successful spell at Ajax between December 2017 and May 2022, leading the club to three league titles and two Dutch Cups, including this season's Eredivisie title.
Ajax duo Jurrien Timber and Lisandro Martinez could follow their former manager to Manchester this summer, while a new striker and midfielder are set to arrive in the upcoming market.
Man United are missing Cristiano Ronaldo against Palace due to a hip problem, while other absences, including Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, have opened the door for Hannibal Mejbri to make his full first-team debut for the 20-time English champions. body check tags ::
