LONDON — Ralf Rangnick says
Manchester United will be fortunate to even get a point against in-form Liverpool on
Tuesday if they show the same defensive frailties they did in the 3–2 win over
struggling Norwich.
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Interim manager Rangnick’s pessimism came despite
United’s chances of securing
Champions League football next season being
boosted by defeats for rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
United trail Spurs — who occupy the fourth and final
Champions League spot — by three points and have the same number of points as
Arsenal, although the Gunners have a game in hand.
Rangnick fears for United’s defense against a
vibrant Liverpool side who reached the FA Cup final on Saturday with a 3–2 win
over league title rivals Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp’s side remain on course for four trophies
— they have secured one already the League Cup — as they are a point adrift of
City in the table and in the Champions League semi-finals.
Rangnick criticized his defense for the two goals
they conceded to bottom-side Norwich on Saturday, saying “no other team in the
league” gives away presents like that.
“Everybody has seen today’s game and everybody knows
what kind of team we are playing on Tuesday,” he said.
“They (Liverpool) have just beaten
Man City, they
are in the cup final and they might have a chance to win four trophies this
season.
“If we play like we did today, it will be very
difficult to even get a point.
“This is what we have to be realistic and aware of.
We have to be lot better when the opposition is in possession.”
On a more upbeat
note for United was
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 60th career hat-trick which took him to
20 goals in all competitions this season.
It is an indictment
of the contributions of his teammates that the 37-year-old Portuguese superstar
has 12 more goals than any of them.
It is the 16th season in a row that Ronaldo has
scored 20 or more club goals in all competitions and moved him on to 99 career
Premier League goals.
However, Ronaldo has also had moments when he has
shown he is clearly unhappy with the way things are going at United and there
are doubts he will see out the final year of his contract next season.
Rangnick says a decision on Ronaldo’s future will be
for his permanent successor, with Ajax coach Erik ten Hag reportedly likely to
be appointed within days.
“In the end, this is not my decision,” said
Rangnick, who will stay on at Old Trafford as an advisor.
“Cristiano has another year on his contract. This
will be a decision for the new manager to take together with the board.
“But he showed against
Tottenham and today that he
can be the difference-maker in games like this.
“It is no coincidence he has the best goalscoring
record of all players in history.”
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