Noel Whelan backs Ralf Rangnick to toughen up Manchester United stars
According to Football Insider (h/t Manchester Evening News), Noel Whelan has backed interim-manager Ralf Rangnick to improve the conduct of Manchester United players on the field.
The German is yet to taste defeat since taking over as manager from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last month. Despite the upturn in fortunes, the club’s performances on the field leave much to be desired.
One common accusation the Red Devils stars have had to face is the constant ‘whinging’. Club legend Gary Neville isn’t usually afraid to speak his mind and recently called out Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo for not acknowledging the travelling support in the game against Newcastle United.
Whether it was because Rangnick made his orders clear, but Man United went on to put in an excellent performance in the 3-1 win over Burnley at Old Trafford. When believes the players’ will see the difference in the results if they continue to follow their manager’s instructions.
“They didn’t have an identity and didn’t have any way of playing. Now you’ve got a manager who is trying to give them all that and make them better players.”
Rangnick has a huge job on his hands to undo the mess the club has been in for the better part of a decade. It is not something he can do alone and will need the players also to step up.
“Now you’ve got someone in that is not afraid of these big names. He’s going to work them and make them better.”
Whelan goes on to add that the players will do well to just get on with the game and focus on the larger picture at hand. At the end of the day, they are the ones who can make a difference in the field. Given some of the pathetic losses they have had to endure this season, listening to Rangnick could improve matters.
“Get on with it and you won’t have any more embarrassing days out.”
A cultural reboot is needed at this moment in time at Man United. The Red Devils have no sense of identity and it will need players and management to work together and bring back a winning culture that can be associated with the club.
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The likes of Fernandes and Ronaldo, in particular, have been too open in airing their frustrations on the field. Rather than moan and gesture, they will also be better off getting into the boat and rowing. After all, on the pitch, they are just one of eleven. We may genuinely start competing for trophies from next season onwards but the groundwork for that must be laid in the next 6 months, and Rangnick has a big part to play in that process.
