The fight for a Champions League spot for Manchester United is heating up. The clear defeat in the derby against city rivals City exacerbates the situation. The absence of Cristiano Ronaldo also plays a role.
It was a definite matter on Sunday afternoon in Manchester. Pep Guardiola’s “Skyblues” dominated Ralf Rangnick’s United opponents at will. More possession, more shots on goal, more goals. Man United were not ahead in almost any crucial statistic.
There was pessimism among the fans of the “Red Devils” before. In addition to Mason Greenwood (sexual abuse investigation), Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo were injured. In the storm center, Rangnick was only available to Marcus Rashford, who is currently out of shape. That’s why he pulled playmaker Bruno Fernandes into the front line.
But the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo also played a role in the hours after the 4-1 defeat. Because the Portuguese, who was injured in the hip, wasn’t even in the stadium. As reported by “The Athletic”, among other things, Ronaldo traveled home before the game kicked off. He offered no moral support on site. That was said to not go down very well with the teammates, since the 37-year-old is actually one of the leading players in the squad. In view of the importance of the game and the tense situation in the table, the absence did not come at a good time.
The next top-class game for Manchester United is already scheduled for next Saturday. Tottenham Hotspur with goalscorer Harry Kane is then a guest at Old Trafford. Rangnick may then not only have Ronaldo available again, but also Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan has been in training for three days. It just wasn’t enough for the game against Man City.
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