MY ACCOUNT
Interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick hinted there could be up to ten new signings following Tuesday’s 4-0 demolition at the hands of Liverpool.
It was effectively game over after 25 minutes with Liverpool already up 2-0 by that point, and United simply were not capable of mounting a tangible fightback.
Following October’s 5-0 trashing at Old Trafford, Tuesday’s 4-0 loss at Anfield served as a microcosm of where the two clubs are at on and off the pitch.
Rangnick asserted the need for a disjointed United to take on a long-term overhaul in the same vein as Liverpool and Manchester City, who built squads over time on the basis of identity.
“If you look at the two clubs who are currently dominating the Premier League, they did exactly that,” he said post-match. “They brought in two managers and not only did they bring in two managers, they also changed the whole thing in terms of formation, what kind of players do they need? What kind of football do we want to play?
“The headline of everything was ‘how do we want to play?’ And underneath this headline after every transfer window, they created the team they have in both clubs.
“If you analyse the situation, it’s not that difficult to analyse. The team needs a rebuild, not because some players have to go but quite a few have no contracts anymore, their contracts are expiring, then for me it’s clear there will be six, seven, eight, maybe 10 new players.”
The 63-year-old went on to reinforce the gulf in squad depth and balance between United and Liverpool that Tuesday’s result crystallised.
Although Fred, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane were among those missing for the Red Devils, Rangnick also noted the absences in Liverpool’s squad as a reference for what they have built under Jurgen Klopp since his arrival at Anfield in 2015.
While comparing Liverpool’s squad to a fleet of Formula One cars, the German manager sees United in similar position to where the Reds were then.
“Jurgen came six years ago and if you compare the squad he inherited, he came after eight or nine games and finished eighth, this is roundabout where we are currently,” he said. “He had a point average of 1.6 but with every transfer window after that they develop the kind of squad we have today.
“I am not blaming anyone, not my players or anyone else, but we just have to realise what kind of squad they had available. Look at their bench, look at the four players who weren’t even in the squad: Roberto Firmino was the only one who was injured, Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn’t in the squad, Minamino wasn’t in the squad, Harvey Elliott was not in the squad. This shows what kind of quality and team they have built together working with Jurgen and his team for the last six years.
“It is not just the quality of players but what kind of mentality they have, what kind of energy and physicality compared with high speed. I would say they have 25 Formula One cars in their squad.”
