MY ACCOUNT
Ralf Rangnick criticised Manchester United’s sharpness after they failed to capitalise on their dominance in a frustrating 0-0 draw with Watford.
After scoring four goals at Leeds United in their previous Premier League encounter, United drew a blank despite having 22 shots at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Just three hit the target, with United’s Expected Goals of 2.43 against the Hornets the highest for any Premier League team not to score in a game this season.
The stalemate dealt a blow to United’s hopes of a top-four finish, leaving them just two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, who have three games in hand.
“We did everything apart from score. It’s hard to take that result,” Rangnick told Match of the Day.
“In the end, if you miss that many chances it is difficult to win the game. We were in full control for almost the whole game, we didn’t allow them hardly any counter-attacks.
“We need to be sharper in front of goal, you can hardly create more chances than we did today. In the end it is a very frustrating afternoon.
“Had anyone told me that we would create that many clear chances I would have said ‘yes, that is enough for us to score one of two goals at least’. But we didn’t.”
Cristiano Ronaldo went closest to scoring for United, hitting the post in the fifth minute, his misfortune setting the tone for a game in which Watford successfully rode their luck.
On Ronaldo’s opportunity, Rangnick added: “That was not the only one [chance]. In the first half we had five massive chances then in the second half we had another three or four. Today we had enough chances to win that game.
“Sometimes we are unlucky, when we hit the post, but we also had a few opportunities one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
“This is not luck, it is a question of sharpness and efficiency in front of goal.”
