The Man United boss says the players must handle the situation professionally amid reports of locker room turmoil.
Manchester United suffered their first defeat under Ralf Rangnick on Monday. After the game, several reports claimed the German manager is facing a crisis in his relationship with the squad.
A report from Mirror revealed 11 Man United players want to leave the club. Some players are unhappy with their lack of game time under Rangnick while a few are already against his tactics.
Man United appointed Rangnick in November, reportedly planning to move him upstairs after the current season. The club will most likely back the German manager to kick start his project of rebuilding the squad. However, Rangnick himself knows he is up to a huge task.
Speaking ahead of United’s upcoming game against Aston Villa, the 63-year-old said (via 90min): “I can only tell you about the squad,
“Obviously, I don’t know about the atmosphere inside the club, the players, locker room, coaching staff, everybody was very disappointed after the game [against Wolves], the performance.
“Now we have four days of training, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow before the Aston Villa game, and our job is to show a different performance against Aston Villa.”
He added: “This is not only an issue with a club like Manchester United. When you have a big squad, in the last two games, we had most of the players available. We had three centre-backs missing against Wolves.
“In general, we had most of the players available, apart from Paul Pogba and ten few players can play, three subbed, then you have quite a number of players who don’t even play or not even in the squad.
“Those players are unhappy about the situation, it’s obvious, clear. I tend to explain to players every two or three weeks why they are not playing and that is an issue in our team and other clubs.”
United are spending their first transfer window under Rangnick. The English giants have spent a relatively quiet transfer window, but things might speed up after the recent developments.
The status of Paul Pogba’s contract negotiations is unclear, while the club are yet to announce Anthony Martial’s next destination.
He added: “We have players with contracts expiring in the summer. We also have one or two more people who want to leave and are under contract. It’s about the players dealing with that in a professional way, showing up in training, showing up, getting a chance to play.
“If this is not the case, the player, club, and agents need to discuss the situation. I cannot say to anyone else. I will address that to the players directly.
“We have made some progress but obviously versus Wolves was a step back, a relapse to habits we have shown in the past.
“We need to insist we that we need to work together. Doing things together with passion, emotion and intensity.”
United have trusted Rangnick to start a new project at the club and will most likely help in dealing with his squad. However, jumping too soon to his directorial duties might affect his side’s performance on the pitch.
United sit seventh in the Premier League, four points away from the fourth spot. The Red Devils will face Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Monday. Rangnick’s side will then meet Steven Gerrard’s men again in the Premier League five days later.
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