Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick responds to ’embarrassed’ Harry Maguire after thrilling 4-2 win over Leeds
Speaking to Sky Sports after his side’s 4-2 win over rivals Leeds United (h/t Express), Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick played down club captain Harry Maguire‘s comments about being embarrassed regarding his team’s scoring record from corners this season.
Maguire put United in the lead after a fantastic corner from Luke Shaw, towering over his marker and putting the ball in the back of the net in the first half. It set the stage for Bruno Fernandes to double the lead before the break, heading in from a wonderful cross from Jadon Sancho.
Rangnick acknowledged that United have not been clinical when it comes to making the most from set-pieces, admitting that it was the first time since April last year that the team had scored from a corner.
As far as I know, it was since April so almost a year and nine months [since United last scored from a corner].”
Despite having tall and physical players like Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Paul Pogba attacking the ball during corners, the Old Trafford side has been unable to take advantage of their height and physical prowess to score goals on set pieces.
Most important was reaction
Maguire had earlier claimed that the stat about United’s poor conversion from corners left him embarrassed after the Englishman ended the club’s barren spell that had lasted for almost two years with his well-taken header.
Rangnick, however, played down these comments from his team’s skipper and focused on the fact that he was most pleased with how the side responded after Leeds equalised early in the second half.
“It was a great goal, a good delivery and a free header from Maguire [but] the most important was the reaction we showed after the equaliser.”
After United’s win over Leeds last night, fans will be delighted about the side finally breaking their dreaded duck of scoring from corners after Maguire put them in the lead with a first-half header. The England international also had a decent game after weeks of poor displays from the captain.
Rangnick, meanwhile, will be pleased about his team’s attitude to go on and win the game after finding themselves level quickly after the restart. United have been unable to recover from equalisers in recent times, and the German will be satisfied with the manner in which they managed to get out of that rut.
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United are up next against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and there is no better way to head into such an important Round of 16 tie in the competition than a thrilling league win over their rivals, away from home.
The Manchester United interim boss will want his team to produce the same attitude and courage on the field last night against Atletico as well and take United one step closer to sealing progress through to the quarterfinals of the tournament, in what is their only shot at winning a trophy this season.
