Rio Ferdinand questions Ralf Rangnick as Manchester United lost 1-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers

Rio Ferdinand has raised questions against Ralf Rangnick as Manchester United were handed a 1-0 loss at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The hosts were outplayed on the night, meaning this was the third successive uninspiring performance Man United had produced which puts into doubt how things are faring within the club.

United see themselves in seventh in the table with 31 points from 19 matches having two games in hand. The defeat at Old Trafford put serious concerns about whether they could qualify for the Champions League next season. While it is still early days, the lack of improvements in the performances would raise alarm bells.

Speaking on the latest FIVE podcast (h/t Daily Mail Online), Ferdinand criticised Rangnick on how he has failed to uplift the team’s displays by helping the players perform to their best. The club legend added how there is a lack of control within the team, which has reflected on the performances.

“I think that’s a big part of our problem, we don’t control enough of the games, and that’s down to individuals but also the shape of the team. I thought that was going to be a real jolt, and a real jump and a real shift when this new manager came in. Yes, he needs time, but again after the first game I haven’t seen a real shift in that confidence and those performances from individuals to elevate us as a team, and that’s what we need to see.”

Puzzling opinion

The German is not exempt from criticisms, but the former Red Devils legend is not correct in this situation. The current state of the club is a result of years of mismanagement, which cannot be solved in a short period. It has been just a few weeks since Rangnick has been here.

Every manager needs time to adjust to new surroundings and gauge what his team needs, where they can improve, and who they can sign. It is important to note that none of these players has been signed by Rangnick; however, we do not have a shabby bunch of individuals at our disposal at all.

The 63-year-old could warrant some criticism considering how he subbed off Mason Greenwood when players such as Cristiano Ronaldo were far worse on the night at Old Trafford. After all, it is only natural to expect Rangnick to put the best interests of the club before anything else.

This was also Rangnick’s first defeat as United manager. It is also unwise to jump the gun so soon and start asking for a sack. We might not have been playing the most attractive football, but the results did come.

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Defeats like these can only ensure that the team will work on such mistakes and not repeat them again. Wolves found a lot of space on the flanks, especially in the first half. Failure to react to their attacking intensity let them set the tone of the game and we never really got back into it.

It seems like the Premier League isn’t as easy as some may have thought it would be for the ex-RB Leipzig manager.