Club icon Keane hits it too
English press mocks Rangnick and United
03/07/2022 4:23 p.m
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Although Ralf Rangnick has only suffered two defeats in his 14 league games at Manchester United, the German coach’s air is getting thin. In the Champions League there is a threat of the end, the qualification for the premier class is not yet secured. And then there’s Ronaldo.
Ralf Rangnick’s disillusionment was written all over his face. After a memorable derby debacle, the German team manager had to admit what nobody at Manchester United likes to admit: the English record champions are miles away from the top. “It was a difficult game that showed how big the gap to them is,” said Rangnick after the bitter 1: 4 (1: 2) at leaders Manchester City.
They were alarming words that made you sit up and take notice. The minimum goal of qualifying for the Champions League, which Rangnick has to achieve in his remaining two and a half months as interim coach, is in great danger in this form. TV expert Roy Keane left no doubt about that. “United have given up and that’s unforgivable in a derby, in every game,” said the club icon on Sky Sports, calling the performance of some players “shameful”. These, the Irishman demanded without naming names, “should no longer play for United”.
After a decent first half, the Rangnick team collapsed under the offensive pressure from the Skyblues for the outstanding double goal scorer Kevin De Bruyne. In the final quarter of an hour, the guests only had eight percent possession of the ball. The headlines the next morning were devastating. “Damned United” was the headline in the Daily Telegraph. The Daily Express saw “Sad United torn to pieces”.
United can lose everything, gain little
The starting position for the crucial weeks is tricky. United, fifth in the league, are only one point behind the premier class, but have played three games more than fourth-placed Arsenal. In the Champions League, the Red Devils, who drew 1-1 at Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 first leg, still have a chance of winning the title – even if it’s a long way away. Otherwise they are out of all cups.
The paradox is that Rangnick’s record in his 14 league games (seven wins, five draws and two defeats) is not as shocking as the general weather situation would suggest. However, unnecessary draws against lower-level teams such as Burnley or Watford repeatedly drew criticism, which is why Rangnick, who is planned to be a United advisor in the future, is unlikely to be allowed to train the team beyond the summer.
On top of that, the supposedly bad mood within the team is often a big topic in the media. Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned in the summer, is struggling at the age of 37 in the intensive Rangnick system and only scored three goals under him. He was absent against City, which came as a surprise. Rangnick explained it with a hip flexor injury.
Keane gave little credence to this narrative. “There seems to be more to Ronaldo than that,” he said. The talk about an alleged injury to Ronaldo “makes no sense to me”. Among other things, “The Athletic” reported that CR7 had flown to his Portuguese homeland before the derby, which is said to have caused astonishment in the team. But even the superstar would hardly have prevented the sensitive Derby bankruptcy.
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