Man Utd news: Ralf Rangnick stands by decision to substitute 'unhappy' Cristiano Ronaldo
- Michael Graham
- 20 January 2022
Ronaldo visibly angry after he was taken off with 20 minutes remaining as Man Utd closed out 3-1 win at Brentford.
Ralf Rangnick has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo was 'not happy' after the Portuguese star was substituted with 20 minutes left of Manchester United's 3-1 win at Brentford.
Man Utd were 2-0 up courtesy of goals from Anthony Elanga and Mason Greenwood at the Brentford Community Stadium when Ronaldo was hauled off.
He could be seen on the bench angrily asking the German coach 'why?' after he was replaced by centre-back Harry Maguire.
After the match, though, Rangnick was unrepentant, explaining that events against Aston Villa last week directed his decision.
"He was asking 'why me'?. But I told him I take the decisions in the interest of the team," Rangnick explained.
"We were 2-0 up at Aston Villa last week with 15 minutes to play and we didn't want to make the same mistake, so I decided to switch to a back five.
"Cristiano was not happy, he is a goalscorer. But for us it was more important to be compact and defend their set-pieces.
"I said to him I know you are still ambitious and you want to score, but maybe in a couple of years when you are a head coach you will make me the same decision.
"I didn't expect him to hug me after being substituted but I take my decisions in the interest of the team and the club. I have never had any issue with Cristiano."
Despite the scoreline Man Utd never looked comfortable until the dying stages, and Rangnick admitted they owed their win to goalkeeper David de Gea as much as anyone.
"I think we have to be honest, without David and his brilliant saves it would have been difficult to be level at half-time," added Rangnick, "The first half was not good.
"We have to admit there was an opposition on the pitch who were aggressive, brave and pressed us high. The second half we did a lot better.
"In the end we could have scored four or five, but we couldn't have complained if we had been 2-0 down at the end of the first half."
