Ralf Rangnick reveals frustration with Man Utd’s wasteful forwards
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has intimated that there is nothing more he or his staff can do to improve results, putting the onus on the players to capitalize on the opportunities they are passing up.
A lot of recent United games have been characterized by poor finishing while creating decent scoring chances – implying that the coaching team’s tactics and instructions are correct – and Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Watford was more of the same.
United controlled from tip to finish at Old Trafford, firing 22 efforts in 90 minutes, but just three were on goal. Bruno Fernandes, in particular, could have scored three goals in the first half if he had been more clinical. Chances for Cristiano Ronaldo and Anthony Elanga also went begging, which may have made the difference on the day.
“As coaches, our job is to assist the team in creating enough chances.” If we only had two or three chances in the game, we may consider what we could do to produce more. “The number of clear chances we had today had to have been enough to win a game like this,” Rangnick observed ruefully.
When speaking to the media, Fernandes accepted some of the blame, saying, “We produced enough to win this game.” We need to be a little more clinical, starting with myself, because I had several chances to score.
“We didn’t score, and we didn’t give up a goal, but if you don’t score, you don’t win the game.” We generated enough material to win this game. We need to be a little more clinical, starting with myself; I had several scoring chances today.”
United’s inability to put games to bed has resulted in points being dropped in six of Rangnick’s 13 Premier League games since his appointment in December, with the club failing to string three consecutive wins together.
United is still fourth in the Premier League and has the final Champions League position, but they are only two points ahead of Arsenal and have played three games more than the Gunners.
“If I look back three months, we’ve given up that many chances and that many points withdraw; we should have four or six more points and the scenario would be radically different,” Rangnick remarked.
