Manchester United's new set-piece coaching specialist revealed

REVEALED: Manchester United’s new secret weapon is a set-piece coaching specialist ‘with a whistle a shepherd would be envious of’, poached from Chelsea to fix Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s weakness at corners and free-kicks

  • Manchester United have brought in Eric Ramsay to help with set-pieces
  • Last season only Leeds conceded more from dead balls than United in the Prem 
  • Ramsay is highly regarded and is said to snap players into gear with his whistle 
  • The arrival of Raphael Varane is soon set to give United more aerial presence 

It is not only major first team recruits Manchester United have brought on board for the coming campaign, as they bid to finally climb back to the summit of English football.

Sensational summer swoops for Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane have heightened expectations around Old Trafford, though it is the arrival of a certain Mr Eric Ramsay which has got tongues wagging behind the scenes.

Little known to the average football fan, Ramsay is renowned as a set-piece specialist and has joined the Red Devils with the specific remit of addressing one of last season’s most troublesome issues.

Eric Ramsay is Manchester United’s secret weapon next season, to address set-pieces

Throughout the last campaign only Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United conceded more goals from set-pieces that United, as the issue became a real thorn in the side for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.

Ramsay previously worked at Shrewsbury Town and Swansea City and arrived this summer following a glowing recommendation from United first-team coach, Kieran McKenna, who he studied alongside at Loughborough University. 

Former Hull City and Bolton Wanderers star Sam Ricketts also worked closely with Ramsay as he developed as a coach, and told the Telegraph that United are bringing on board an exciting talent.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought the young coach on board to stop his side leaking goals

Ricketts studied for his UEFA Pro Licence with Ramsay via the Welsh FA before they ended up together at Shrewsbury and make their first foray into coaching.

Ricketts said: ‘He’s a clear thinker, he’s got a good tactical brain and a real level of detail in what he does.

‘That is why he went on first to Chelsea from Shrewsbury and now finds himself at Man United.

‘His personality is the big thing. He’s a people person. He’s a very rounded individual who won’t be fazed by anything but who will be very attentive and detail-driven in everything he does.’

Ricketts went on to add how Ramsay’s commanding personality makes players immediately switch on to what he is saying, while his ability to whistle using his fingers would ‘make a shepherd envious.’

He added: ‘I know it sounds stupid but he’s got one of one of the best whistles with his fingers I’ve heard on a training pitch and when he wants to make a point quickly it can be very effective.

Last season only Leeds conceded more from dead balls than United in the Premier League

‘A shepherd would be envious. Eric could control a sheep dog two fields away.

‘Some people can’t get intensity into sessions. Maybe they’re too placid, quiet, nice, but Eric can flip between the two. His whistle can be part of that. It pricks your attention.’

On Monday new boy Sancho trained for the first time with his new team-mates after finally sealing his blockbuster summer move from Borussia Dortmund.

The £73million star completed his move three weeks ago but had been on holiday since missing a penalty in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy on July 11.

But with five days until United begin the new campaign against Leeds United at Old Trafford, the 21-year-old winger has reported for duty at Carrington.

French defender Varane is expected to also soon link up with his new team-mates, and be unveiled by the club, once his quarantine period ends. 




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