Ralf Rangnick has hit back at Paul Pogba’s comments over being played out of position at Manchester United, saying he expects the player to be able to fulfil a number of roles in his team.
Speaking during the international break, Pogba threw his future at the club into further doubt by suggesting he has wasted five years of his career at Old Trafford.
The Frenchman also said he does not have a clearly defined role at United like he does while playing for his country under Didier Deschamps, saying ‘it’s hard to be consistent when you often have a change to your position, or the team system, or your partners.’
Speaking to the press ahead of Saturday’s game with Leicester City, Rangnick was dismissive of some Pogba’s comments but took exception to the claims he is being played out of position.
‘I’ve got enough to do now to prepare the team for the next game, and I don’t think it makes sense to now interpret or just judge what he has maybe said in an interview, it doesn’t make sense,’ Rangnick said on Friday.
‘For me it’s only important to judge him. ‘I also heard he said he had played in different positions in the last couple of weeks.
‘Yes of course. Since the game against West Ham on 22 January we have lost three strikers since then, Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani – who is injured again and will be out for the next couple of weeks unfortunately.
‘And on top of that if Paul was still injured himself, with players like Bruno or Scott McTominay missing, of course you have to play in a different role.
‘If this is someone like Paul who is a flexible midfielder player who can play, as a no6, no8 or a 10, this is normal.’
