Manchester United’s embarrassing 6-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night is the second in a row for the Premier League leaders. The defeat leaves them with a slender lead over Manchester City, who face an away game at Chelsea on Sunday and remain unbeaten this season.
Now United’s manager, Ralf Rangnick, is explaining how he intends to turn the team around in the remaining 11 games of the season. The former Bayern Munich and Ajax coach, who took over in January, after Jose Mourinho was sacked, insists that his squad is stronger and that there is more ambition to the game.
“The players are convinced to fight back,” Rangnick said in an interview with the Straits Times. “And they will make a start to believe in themselves again. That is why there is life.”
“What is to stop them from doing it? What is wrong is the belief and the motivation. And the belief is in the team to score goals. You can also attack. The players have the ability, too. It is a question of how to push the players to the limits. That is what I am pushing to them.”
Rangnick, known as a shrewd coach and a winner, gave instructions that include training for a match and it appears they are on the right track. After the game against Tottenham he held a meeting with Pogba to remind him that the defending champions needed to be at their best in every game if they were to remain on top of the Premier League.
“The player knows and thinks that he can solve everything,” Rangnick said. “If not, he is missing a chance. With all the help, all this assistance, he can solve everything. He is talented. Let’s be more and more patient and get him to believe. It will happen. I have good news.”
“We are convinced we can win every game of the league.”