MY ACCOUNT
Ralf Rangnick said he is focusing on his current squad rather than potential signings in the January transfer window after his Manchester United side beat Burnley 3-1 at Old Trafford in the final Premier League game of 2021.
Goals from Scott McTominay, a Ben Mee own goal and Cristiano Ronaldo were enough to seal victory on Thursday evening, despite an Aaron Lennon strike pulling one back for the visitors.
After the game, the United interim manager was asked whether he will consider making additions in January.
“My focus is on the current players. We have enough players in the squad, so there is no lack of number of players,” Rangnick told Amazon Prime Sport.
“Transfers in the winter only make sense if they really help you, if they increase the quality, and so far we haven’t spoken about that. My focus in the last couple of weeks was on the current squad.”
The Red Devils scored all three of their goals in the first 35 minutes against the Clarets, having not scored more than once in any of Rangnick’s first four games in charge.
The former RB Leipzig boss was pleased with his team’s efforts, feeling that the collective performance was better than it had been previously.
“As expected it was a very tough physical game against a team who play very physical,” he added. “We also showed the qualities we have in our team. It was important today to raise the energy level.
“The whole team performance was a lot better, I was pleased with the performances of our wingers. Jadon [Sancho] did well and Mason [Greenwood]. Eddie [Cavani] and Cristiano, the work effort was amazing.”
Rangnick was asked about targets for the rest of the season, with United now in sixth place in the Premier League, level on points with West Ham in fifth, and four behind fourth-placed Arsenal, with a game in hand on both.
“I wouldn’t say fourth is the minimum,” he said. “It is about taking next development steps. Now eight games in a row without a defeat. It is about taking next steps.”
14 – Manchester United have taken 14 points from their last six games (W4 D2 under Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick), 10 more than they managed in their final six under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (W1 D1 L4). Revival.
