Press Conference vs Southampton

[AngeloHenriquez]

Will update OP as more comes out

Rangnick admits Ronaldo should be scoring more goals

"It's not only about Cristiano Ronaldo. He should score more goals, it's obvious, I think we are creating enough chances and and enough opportunities in the last couple of games but we just didn't score enough goals, but this is not only an issue with Cristiano, it's an issue with the other players, especially the offensive players. We don't score enough goals.
"If you bear in mind how many chances we create, and this is also something that needs to get better in the next couple of weeks. At Burnley, in 70 of those 90 minutes, it was very, very, very close to the game plan we spoke before the game and now it's about rewarding ourselves and also getting the results we should deserve."

United vs Southampton preview

"We are fully aware this will be a difficult one. Obviously, I watched the game at Spurs during the week and they really deserved to win. They tactically played at a very high level and this will be a challenge for us, but I'm sure we'll be up for that challenge.
"We'll prepare the game today for tomorrow's game and we have to win the game, that's for sure. We did well in both first-halves against Middlesbrough and Burnley, but we need top performances from the whole game against Southampton and Brighton."

Taking on Ralph Hasenhuttl

"I've known [Hasenhuttl] for six or seven years, he has developed in those years, it's obvious. You can see what he did with Southampton, he also did a great job at Leipzig, finishing second in the first year of the Bundesliga and sixth in the second year. What he's achieved at Southampton is great, just great. Excellent coach."

Harry Maguire

"I think he had an outstanding game vs West Ham. We could have defended transitional moment better at Burnley but the rest of our defence was not really good. We should not have allowed the counter-attack to happen.
"Harry was injured, ccame back, had a very good game vs West Ham and sure he can perform like that tomorrow."

Dressing room unrest

"Nothing to be honest. I haven't read any newspapers or read those articles.
"The way we have developed is obviously, the work we do on the pitch and the video analysis."

The reason United drop off in the second-half

"How we played in the first half or 70 minutes at Burnley was very, very close to the game-plan that we spoke about and now it's about rewarding ourselves and getting the results that we deserve. "I think the players have realised that there has been a good development in the last couple of weeks, both in and out of possession. They realised that we controlled the game but, then again, if we concede a goal, against Boro it was after 65-70 minutes, we should just stick to the game-plan. Not, all of a sudden, lose shape or lose composure. "This was the most harmful part of it. We just didn't stick to that game-plan. All of a sudden, we didn't have the same positioning on the pitch, our two 8s were too far outside, this is what we spoke about yesterday and the day before, when we analysed the Burnley game. "Hopefully, when we have the same amount of opportunities, we score more than one goal, this has to be more effective. But we have to be aware of why we were so dominant. We have to stick to that, all of a sudden, not lose structure, lose shape, it was obvious for some 15-20 minutes against Burnley. It got better at the end of the game, and we had more control, but in those 15 minutes, we lost that shape."

Surprised how long development has taken?

"No. I was fully aware that this was a process and would take some time. The development is obvious, even in those two games. In football it is about getting the reward, the best result, and in those two games that was the only thing I could fault us on."

Set-piece importance

"Yes, obviously. We haven't conceded that many from set-pieces in the last 10 weeks. I thought we had scored from one vs Burnley! We are working on that."

Rangnick pleased with United improvement

"I can only tell you what I have experienced in the last few weeks. I'd even say they were good had we won at Burnley. It is about improving in terms of performance and results. The team has developed, even the players realise themselves how much they have improved, especially in control of the game."

 

[red4ever 79]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

Makes you think something has to be going on behind the scenes, he can't genuinely believe that while everyone and their dog thinks the opposite..

 

[red4ever 79]

Makes you think something has to be going on behind the scenes, he can't genuinely believe that while everyone and their dog thinks the opposite..

The board (whoever they are) have far too much influence and sway with footballing decisions. We paid 80M for this average CB, and I wouldnt be surprised if Ralf is told he has to play him because it would look bad if we dont. I'm really fed up, so much wrong with this club

 

[Giggsy13]

Rangnick is right, if the players stick with the same approach they’ll eventually get rewarded. The problem is we fall off and lose our composure when we concede.

 

[bond19821982]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

He said Maguire was good against West Ham and not Burnley. Lindelof isn't back and he don't have a choice now.

 

[James35]

Maguire will captain us for years to come and lift zero trophies.

 

[gerdm07]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

Maguire was very good against West Ham.

 

[Raw]

Interesting to note that we didn't stick to the gameplan after conceding v Burnley. Either the players took it into their own hands or they're mentally weak enough to let a conceded goal feck it all up.

 

[tomaldinho1]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

In fairness what do you want him to say, 'he's crap'?
I completely lost faith in Maguire but nothing wrong with Ragnick saying he was good versus WHUM (he was) and he could have done better in transition versus Burnley (stating the obvious). He's hardly going to do a Mou and say 'I need another CB'

 

[RedDevil@84]

In fairness what do you want him to say, 'he's crap'?
I completely lost faith in Maguire but nothing wrong with Ragnick saying he was good versus WHUM (he was) and he could have done better in transition versus Burnley (stating the obvious). He's hardly going to do a Mou and say 'I need another CB'

Guess we will know tomorrow. If he starts, obviously Ragnick thinks Harry had a good enough game against Burnley or he has been instructed to play Maguire at any cost.

 

[Damien]

Guess we will know tomorrow. If he starts, obviously Ragnick thinks Harry had a good enough game against Burnley or he has been instructed to play Maguire at any cost.

Or option 3 Lindelof isn't fit enough to start a game yet.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Or option 3 Lindelof isn't fit enough to start a game yet.

Ya of course. I thought Lindelof was in full training even before the Burnley game. And he was ill before that, but not injured.

 

[Champ]

Obviously Maguire's fault that the forwards can't seem to score right now,

don't understand why RR didn't just blame it all on Maguire really?!

 

[Adam-Utd]

Ya of course. I thought Lindelof was in full training even before the Burnley game. And he was ill before that, but not injured.

It's quite obvious Maguire SHOULD be the better option against long ball Burnley.

He was fine in the air, ironically it was his the ground game that cost us. Tactically against a team like Burnley Lindelof is always going to struggle.

I suspect though with Southampton, Lindelof could come back into the picture. I can imagine Maguire dawdling on the ball and getting caught under the press.

 

[Damien]

Ya of course. I thought Lindelof was in full training even before the Burnley game. And he was ill before that, but not injured.

Oh I know but it has been a stop/start year for him with the covid diagnosis (I'm aware he played after this), the robbery and the latest illness.

 

[pascell]

He also said Matic is out, so hopefully that means Mejbri will be on the bench as he's our only CM who can cover since Fred has covid.

 

[MacGlock88]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

I’m not a fan of managers who throw players under the bus. So agree with his approach here.
Not publicly backing a player (your captain in this instance), tends not to have the desired result of improvement.

Penny for Ralfs real thoughts.

 

[pascell]

I’m not a fan of managers who throw players under the bus. So agree with his approach here.
Not publicly backing a player (your captain in this instance), tends not to have the desired result of improvement.

Penny for Ralfs real thoughts.

There was a report a few weeks back saying he thinks AWB, Shaw and Maguire aren't good enough for United. Since then AWB has played once, Shaw lost his place to Telles but Maguire has stayed a mainstay, mainly due to Lindelof getting covid and his house burgled.

Personally I don't think he rates them and he's completely right, Shaw doesn't have the fitness levels to be a modern day full back, AWB is useless and should never have been signed and Maguire isn't the leader we need at the back, if anything he instils panic in the rest of the back line.

 

[Florida Man]

 

[Offsideagain]

The Media ,and Gary Neville , bought AWB by begging him up. He did have a good season at Palace and he is a good tackler but not what RR is looking for . Dalot is a much better bet. Telles is better than Shaw and as for Maguire he has seriously gone down the nick since he was arrested on holiday. No pace or tactical awareness and certainly no leader. For RR to say we will have to work hard against Southampton just shows how low the club has got. Boro, Burnley, Southampton and Brighton used to be guaranteed wins, now we just don’t know what’s coming.

 

[11101]

Interesting to note that we didn't stick to the gameplan after conceding v Burnley. Either the players took it into their own hands or they're mentally weak enough to let a conceded goal feck it all up.

I think it's obviously the latter after the last few years. We have seen numerous times a bit of pressure and our players crumble and start making mistakes, or in the case of players like Bruno, go a bit Roy of the Rovers and abandon their posts to try to do everything themselves.


I was really hoping he would lay into the officiating we have seen the last two games. We need to start making these referees fear us the way Ferguson used to and Klopp does now.

 

[Abraxas]

Guess we will know tomorrow. If he starts, obviously Ragnick thinks Harry had a good enough game against Burnley or he has been instructed to play Maguire at any cost.

Instructed by who? What is this scenario where somebody has walked up to Ralf and said he must play Harry Maguire, of all people?

I'd suggest if he plays him it's because despite recent mistakes he still thinks he's better than the other rather sub-par options.

 

[crossy1686]

The Media ,and Gary Neville , bought AWB by begging him up. He did have a good season at Palace and he is a good tackler but not what RR is looking for . Dalot is a much better bet. Telles is better than Shaw and as for Maguire he has seriously gone down the nick since he was arrested on holiday. No pace or tactical awareness and certainly no leader. For RR to say we will have to work hard against Southampton just shows how low the club has got. Boro, Burnley, Southampton and Brighton used to be guaranteed wins, now we just don’t know what’s coming.

Fergie said this regularly

 

[ThemanGiggsy]

The Media ,and Gary Neville , bought AWB by begging him up. He did have a good season at Palace and he is a good tackler but not what RR is looking for . Dalot is a much better bet. Telles is better than Shaw and as for Maguire he has seriously gone down the nick since he was arrested on holiday. No pace or tactical awareness and certainly no leader. For RR to say we will have to work hard against Southampton just shows how low the club has got. Boro, Burnley, Southampton and Brighton used to be guaranteed wins, now we just don’t know what’s coming.

i disagree with this. i think Shaw is a lot better than Telles, especially in an offensive system. Shaw's overlapping and underlapping runs are invaluable, especially with a Sancho or Rashford playing on the left in front of him as they hold up the ball if they can't immediately win at pace. this gives Shaw a chance to make a run and receive the ball or open space or the LW to beat a man or make a pass to, say Bruno, who can then play in Shaw.

i also think Shaw is better defensively as well.

 

[Volksie316]

I have never seen a club, tolerate mediocrity more than United, in my lifetime.

Why do we constantly reward mediocrity?

I am not even just talking about Maguire either. It's been a huge problem at the club for a number of years now. Giving new contracts to the likes of Mata, Matic, Jones and other players, when it's been clear, they are no longer at the required standard. Jones has never been United standard in truth but Mata and Matic have been good players and loyal, but they should have been moved on years ago.

In star contrast to the likes of City and Pep. He realised Bravo was not good enough and replaced him very quickly, and he did the same with his full backs.

We no longer have that big team mentality and are happy with mediocrity, and Maguire is no different. The guy has been SO fecking bad, for such a long time now, yet he plays pretty much every week, no questions asked!

 

[RedDevil@84]

I'd suggest if he plays him it's because despite recent mistakes he still thinks he's better than the other rather sub-par options.

Obviously, several people do not agree with you. Which is why people are expressing surprise at any kind of praise for Maguire.

 

[Glorio]

He's spot on regarding the loss of composure after we concede. Everyone panics and starts rushing things and we completely abandon the game plan that gave us so much success from the start of the game. In both instances, we've had ample time to go and score again but we've just wilted in both occasions and done nothing till the very end.

 

[romufc]

The board (whoever they are) have far too much influence and sway with footballing decisions. We paid 80M for this average CB, and I wouldnt be surprised if Ralf is told he has to play him because it would look bad if we dont. I'm really fed up, so much wrong with this club

Yes ofcourse the board dictate what team gets picked. The board must have told Ole that he can't drop Pogba and De Gea when he did as well right?

Some people actually think that Rangnick will take direction from the board as to who to start during an interim period must be delusional.

I suspect you have not done research on this man. He walked out of jobs because he did not agree with the board, do not mistake him for a puppet.

 

[Smores]

He's spot on regarding the loss of composure after we concede. Everyone panics and starts rushing things and we completely abandon the game plan that gave us so much success from the start of the game. In both instances, we've had ample time to go and score again but we've just wilted in both occasions and done nothing till the very end.

He is and it points to the players being mentally fragile. I imagine we'll be working on a system to fall into once we concede so we can regain control for 10 minutes, that's the next step in my view.

 

[MichaelRed]

Maguire is his only option at the minute, not like he was going to come out and say "yea, of course Harry is crap but my other CBs aren't available so hopefully the liablility doesn't cost me more points tomorrow. Hopefully we can replace the lump in the summer but he's on huge wages so we might be stuck with the waster for a while still to come & we have other positions to prioritise in the transfer window so yeah, strap yourselves in.".

 

[red4ever 79]

Or option 3 Lindelof isn't fit enough to start a game yet.

I'm going to agree with this sentiment, because there is no way Harry Mings starts ahead of Lindelof if the Swede is fit.

 

[TSE123]

I’m not a fan of managers who throw players under the bus. So agree with his approach here.
Not publicly backing a player (your captain in this instance), tends not to have the desired result of improvement.

Penny for Ralfs real thoughts.

I agree with you. I passionately dislike Maguire as a footballer, but a manager (or any type of boss/superior/chief) who doesnt back his players/staff outwardly/publicly is going to lose out on trust etc in the long run.

I just hope it doesnt mean he will also play Maguire and if Lindelof is fit then there should be no question who starts (based on performances).

I do wonder if owners/directors have given an instruction that he is to play - to not devalue him completely!?

 

[Abraxas]

Obviously, several people do not agree with you. Which is why people are expressing surprise at any kind of praise for Maguire.

I'm not praising Maguire.

I am looking for substantiation of this notion that Rangnick has to play him. Where has this come from or is it simply a figment of your imagination?

 

[MacGlock88]

I agree with you. I passionately dislike Maguire as a footballer, but a manager (or any type of boss/superior/chief) who doesnt back his players/staff outwardly/publicly is going to lose out on trust etc in the long run.

I just hope it doesnt mean he will also play Maguire and if Lindelof is fit then there should be no question who starts (based on performances).

I do wonder if owners/directors have given an instruction that he is to play - to not devalue him completely!?

I wouldn’t say a direction that he needs to be played. HM has the ability, but not a lot of consistency. You won’t get consistency if you’re not playing. With that, play him in the hope of consistency and performances he is capable of.

That, and the second best option is still second best, all things considered (including the inconsistency).

 

[TheReligion]

I can only assume from some of the comments here that the vast majority have no understanding of how to manage people day to day.

 

[DJ_21]

You can look at it 2 ways, the chances we had first halve should of been put away and we could of easily of been 3/4-0 up and then no one really talks about Maguires mistake as much. The other one is if all the defenders are on form and at there best then we should be able to win games by 1 goal because the strikers are going to miss chance after chance in some games and will need the defence to bail them out but then the defence are going to need the strikers to put away the chances incase they do make a mistake.

 

[Hugh Jass]

We are seriously fecked reading those comments on Maguire.

Anyone else start to like lose a bit of interest in Utd lately. I just dont have the time for these bluffers underperforming and complaining. I miss the good old days

I am getting fed up of the prima donna mentalities. Basically earning millions and dont really want to work for it.

I can forgive not winning like against middlesboro which was just bad luck. I cannot forgive not giving a 100 percent.

 

[dave2528]

I don't have any issue with what he said about Maguire. I will have issue if all of our CBs are fit and Maguire starts over Lindelof.

 

[pratyush_utd]

Lindelof had just returned so it made sense for Harry to start last game. Most likely Lindelof is starting tomorrow despite what Rangnick says in public.