Ralf Rangnick feels only Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay are showing the qualities needed to help Manchester United overcome problems in games when things aren’t going their way, according to reports.
McTominay played the full 90 minutes of United’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday while Shaw missed the game after testing positive for coronavirus.
United’s players were accused of giving up in the second half by the likes of Roy Keane and Gary Neville as Man City enjoyed 92 per cent possession in the last 15 minutes.
According to ESPN, Rangnick and his coaching staff have been left ‘alarmed’ by a lack of ability to overcome adversity within the team since taking over from Solskjaer.
United’s defeat to City was only their second in 18 games under the German coach but the manner of their performances have been far from convincing.
Five times this campaign the Red devils have surrendered the lead in games in which they have gone on to draw with the club struggling to see out matches when going ahead and having to settle only for a point.
Rangnick and his staff are reported to be concerned the majority of the group get distracted by mistakes which can hinder their display or allow their frustrations to impact their ability to stay focused until the last minute.
But, McTominay and Shaw do seem to be in Rangnick’s good books with the manager knowing he can rely on them to show the character and leadership qualities on the pitch to turn things around when it gets tough.
United are far from guaranteed a top-four finish at present and currently sit fifth, one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal, but have played three more matches than the Gunners.
McTominay addressed Neville and Keane’s criticisms that United players ‘gave up’ directly after the defeat at the Etihad.
‘From my point of view, on the pitch, it’s hard to see what’s going on around you but if that’s what people are saying then so be it,’ he said. ‘They’re all entitled to their own opinion but, for myself, it’s incredibly disappointing if people think that.
‘I’ll have to watch it back and see body language and things like that but, for myself, it hurts. If you give a team like that all the time in the world in the second half, you’re gonna get punished. It’s as simple as that.’
