MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their third goal during a Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on April 16, 2022 in Manchester, England.
(Image courtesy of Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images.) )
Ralf Rangnick, interim manager of Manchester United, believes his team can still finish in the top four of the Premier League this season.
United's chances increased drastically after the weekend's results, when they moved from seventh to fifth in the rankings following their 3-2 victory against Norwich City, while Arsenal lost to Southampton and West Ham drew with Burnley.
United are now three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who also lost on Saturday against Brighton & Hove Albion.
"We're still in the hunt for the top four," Rangnick stated at a press conference on Monday. "However, we realize that in order to stay in the race, we need to win all six games."
"Other teams have dropped points, but we need to be consistent." In the end, the squad that finishes fourth will be the most dedicated to that."
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Manchester United's Paul Pogba smiles at Norwich City's Harry Maguire during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Norwich City at Old Trafford on April 16, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
(Photo courtesy of Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside/Getty Images.) )
United head to Anfield on Tuesday to face Liverpool, who advanced to the FA Cup final with a 3-2 win over Manchester City at Wembley last weekend and will go top of the Premier League standings with a win tonight.
"It's up to us, and we'll do everything we can to get the three points," Rangnick added. "This is what it's all about, and it has nothing to do with the situation they're in. Even if we are the underdogs, we know that if we improve our game, if we play our best, we have a chance to win three points, and that is our goal."
Rangnick is full of praise for his compatriot Jurgen Klopp's performance at United's main adversary. "He's without a doubt one of the finest, if not the best, coaches not only now, but in the last couple of years."
"I'm not sure if this should be a role model, but what has transpired there in the previous six years is certainly no coincidence... They brought in the proper players and got rid of the wrong ones. They simply built a squad, and that is why they are where they are."
FSV Mainz 05 vs. Schalke 04
DECEMBER 10, GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY: Head coaches Ralf Rangnick of Schalke and Juergen Klopp of Mainz smile before the Bundesliga match between Schalke 04 and FSV Mainz 05 on December 10, 2005 at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
(Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images) )
Rangnick was dissatisfied with his team's performance despite winning all three points against Norwich at the weekend.
"As I stated after the game, we just need to be more compact and find a better balance between what we can do with the ball and what we need to do to defend our own goal."
"We need to be more compact and aggressive, more on the front foot while still ensuring we have all of the players on the pitch, and this is what we need to show against a team that is probably one of the best at creating chances and creating moments in which they can be dangerous in and around the box."
"We need to be at our absolute best defensively while still having a formation, line-up, and approach to the game that allows us to be dangerous ourselves.""
United will continue to be without Fred, Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw, Edinson Cavani, and Raphael Varane, but Bruno Fernandes is healthy and ready to play despite being involved in a minor vehicle accident on Monday.
"He's practicing with the team; obviously, the accident occurred on the way to Carrington, but as far as I know, no one was wounded," Rangnick added. "He trained with the team and was OK."
blogpay
Total Comments: 0