Ralf Rangnick says Manchester United only have themselves to blame after FA Cup exit
Ralf Rangnick says Manchester United only have themselves to blame after FA Cup exit
Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United’s interim manager: “We should have and could have easily been up 3-0 after 45 minutes, and we squandered some excellent opportunities in the second half, even after they scored a goal that shouldn’t have stood. As a result, we must blame ourselves.”
Chris Wilder guided Championship side Boro to an even more shocking triumph as the competition’s fourth round got off to a fantastic start a year after directing Sheffield United to a shock Old Trafford victory.
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s uncharacteristic penalty miss, Jadon Sancho handed United a deserved lead, but their continuous profligacy in front of goal allowed the visitors to claw their way back.
In the second half, Matt Crooks, a former United youth player and lifelong supporter, equalized – a questionable goal given Duncan Watmore handled the ball before crossing – and Bruno Fernandes subsequently struck the post when he looked certain to score.
The game concluded 1-1 after extra time, with United attacker Anthony Elanga’s missed penalty securing Boro’s 8-7 shoot-out victory, much to the pleasure of the 9,500-strong crowd.
‘Bruno’s chance was similar to a penalty kick.’
Rangnick, United’s interim manager, remarked, “We gave away too many chances, especially in the first half.”
“We should have and could have easily been up 3-0 after 45 minutes, and we squandered some wonderful opportunities in the second half, even after they scored a goal that shouldn’t have stood.
“However, Bruno’s chance was almost as good as a penalty, so we must take responsibility for giving up and squandering too many chances throughout the game.
“And, in the end, if it’s on penalties, it’s also a question of luck, and we lost that game, and we’re all very disappointed.”
After his penalty miss, Elanga was consoled by Ronaldo and others, with adoring supporters screaming his name at the end of a night that lacked Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard.
After returning from international duty, the Uruguay striker was offered further time off, according to Rangnick, who said Lingard sought the tim
e to clear his brain after a January exit was blocked, something the player has refuted.
‘No Lingard, Cavani regrets,’ says Cavani.
When asked if he regrets such actions, United’s manager replied: “He didn’t play for Uruguay on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it would have made sense given the jet lag and travel arrangements. In any case, he would not have been a member of the squad.
“And as for Jesse, I told you what I knew and what I didn’t know, and of course, I would have loved to have Jesse on the team.
“Why should I have permitted him to have four or five days off when we only had one outfield player on the squad sheet today?
“I would have loved to have him in the squad and for him to be in the squad, but that was not the case, so it’s pointless to talk about people who aren’t available.”
United’s FA Cup defeat means they now have only a slim chance of breaking their five-year trophy drought, with the Champions League as their last hope of winning silverware.
