Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick has referred to this Sunday’s 4-2 Premier League victory over Leeds United the “perfect response” to the slew of off-field dramas that has inundated the club of late.
The publicity has been so negative that Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire have both had to step in, publicly denying recent rumors of an internal “power struggle” at the club between the latter and Cristiano Ronaldo for the club captaincy.
Maguire is still having the privilege of wearing the captain’s armband with manager Ralf Rangnick stating recently that there’s no reason why he shouldn’t continue in the role. The skipper himself had opened the scoring at Elland Road despite torrid conditions, with Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Anthony Elanga following suit and getting their names on the scoresheet.
Rangnick is insistent that the valuable three points in the current scenario was the ideal way to silence the critics, telling reporters:
“We knew that it was an important win today. That was the best possible answer the team could give.
“It was perfect with regard to maturity, unity and the best reply that they could give to some articles last week that there was some disruption in the locker room.
“I think a game like this one today you can only win as a team and with the mentality of a team. This was, apart from the three points, the most important thing.”
Leeds had made laborious efforts to level through Rodrigo and Raphinha’s efforts before finally conceding to substitutes Fred and Elanga who gamely justified the manager’s faith in them, but Elanga was unfortunately hit by a coin thrown from the spectator stands while celebrating Fred’s goal.
Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia
