By Ayomide Sotubo
Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of coach Chris Amas and sports psychologist Sascha Lense as new backroom staff members of Ralf Ragnick.
Armas worked as head coach of New York Red Bulls from 2018 to 2020 before moving to Toronto FC where he eventually got sacked in July this year.
Ragnick, who was head of sport and development of the entire Red Bull football brand during Armas’ time also worked with Lense at RB Leipzig- and United’s interim boss hopes their work permits would be sorted soon.
“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 top level you should have the best person possible on this job.”