Manchester United: “They are at least trying,” says Ralf Rangnick on dressing room problems, midfield issues ahead of FA Cup tie

Manchester United: Ralf Rangnick Press Conference ahead of FA Cup tie – Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick spoke to journalists ahead of his side’s FA Cup third-round match against Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa. The interim manager answered questions on the mood in the squad after last week’s league defeat and after loads of speculation over the dressing room mood of his players and how he and his coaches feel progress has been made so far. Follow InsideSport.IN for the latest news

Manchester United: “They are at least trying,” says Ralf Rangnick on dressing room problems, midfield issues ahead of FA Cup tie

📣 “I’m sure that [the players] are listening and I think we showed in the last games that they are trying to follow the advice that we give them,” Ralf adds.

“We conceded less goals, an average of 0.6 in those six games, but yes, it’s about balance.”#MUFC | #FACup

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 7, 2022

Manchester United: Ralf Rangnick Press Conference ahead of FA Cup tie

On reports of dressing room unrest

“Well I can only tell you about the squad obviously, I don’t know about the atmosphere inside the club. I can only speak about the players, the locker room, the coaching staff. Obviously everybody was very disappointed after the game, not only about the result, but also about the performance, especially in the first half. My job, our job is to make sure we show a different performance on Monday against Aston Villa.”

On whether the players are listening and buying into his ideas

“They are at least trying. I’m sure that they are listening and I think we showed in the last games, against Palace, also against Burnley and also in the away games against Norwich and Newcastle that they are trying to follow the advice that we give them, that I give them. We conceded less goals than before, I think we have an average of 0.6 in those six games, but yes, still, it’s about balance. We need to find the best possible balance between offence and defence and we still have something to do to get better on [this].”

Manchester United: “They are at least trying,” says Ralf Rangnick on dressing room problems, midfield issues ahead of FA Cup tie

Players reaction to the loss against Wolves

“Well, yes, as I said, all the players were disappointed, like myself, like the coaching staff, because, especially in the first half, we didn’t get a hold of the build-up game of Wolves. I think offensively we have the quality, we can show the quality, but at the same time we need to find the best possible balance, offence and defence.”

If there are problems in the dressing room

“This is not only an issue with a club like Manchester United. When you have a big squad, and we have a big squad and if you have that many players and only 10 players can play and 3 substituted, then, of course, you have quite a number of players, in our case 10, 12, 13, 14 players who don’t play or are not even in the squad. That those players are not happy about that situation is obvious. I tend to explain to players every two to three weeks why they are not playing but I obviously cannot do that in every game. That is an issue in our team as well as in other clubs.”

🔊 “We can only get better in possession of the ball, in the transitional moments, together,” Ralf continues.

“We have to do things simultaneously and also with passion, emotion and intensity.” 💪#MUFC | #FACup

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 7, 2022

On managerial uncertainty:

“We have players with contracts expiring in the summer, we have maybe also players who still want to leave although they are on a contract. Everybody has the chance and the objective to show in training and then to get the chance to play. If this is not the case then the player, together with the club and the agents, they need to discuss the situation. But as far as I can tell so far, the players have been dealing with that in a professional way so I cannot say anything else. If I realise that this is not the case, I will address that with the players directly.”

On the importance of the FA Cup:

“Yes, we have some made progress, but obviously the game against Wolves was again a step back. David De Gea who objected them to going easily to our goal. David was the one who kept us in the game in the first half. In the second half, it was better, when we changed formation to a back three. But again, it’s about finding a sustainable balance for the future and this can only be done together.”

Manchester United: “They are at least trying,” says Ralf Rangnick on dressing room problems, midfield issues ahead of FA Cup tie