'This has to happen' - Ralf Rangnick issues challenge to senior Man Utd stars
- Michael Graham
- 14 January 2022
Red Devils boss keen for his top players to take the lead in mentality changes at the club.
Ralf Rangnick says he hopes Cristiano Ronaldo keeps on holding Manchester United teammates to account and has challenged other senior plays to do it too.
The Red Devils are having a poor season, currently languishing in seventh spot in the Premier League.
That prompted Ronaldo to publicly demand more from the Man Utd squad, and Rangnick is fully on board with that kind of leadership.
Asked if Ronaldo can be a role model for the group, Rangnick said: "Yes, of course. It's not only Cristiano.
"We have Edinson (Cavani), we have Harry (Maguire), we have quite a few other older players - David de Gea in goal, Victor Lindelof, Bruno (Fernandes).
"We have enough experienced, older players who can not only be role models themselves in training, on the pitch and in games but also in all those conversations that happen in the locker room or when they are together in the hotel for away games or home games.
"This has to happen. In a team, in a united team, that happens automatically and I can only invite and challenge and tell all the players, also the older players, to do that on a regular basis because that helps even more so in a team that we have currently.
"If Cristiano, for example, or any of the other players address that to the players directly on the pitch or in the locker room, they are more than welcome to do that."
Earlier in the week Ronaldo threw his backing behind Rangnick's reign, saying he expected things to improve soon - but he included a clear message for the players too.
"Manchester United should win the league or be second or third. I don't see any other position for Manchester United.
"In my heart, I don't accept that our mentality be less than being in the top three in the Premier League, in my opinion.
"I think to build up good things sometimes you have to destroy a few things. New year, new life, I hope that Manchester can be at the level people want, especially the fans. We are capable of changing things now.
"We can do it better, all of us. I don't want to be here in the club to fight to be in sixth or seventh place. I am here to try to win, to compete. I believe if we change our mind we can achieve big things."
