Ralf Rangnick Admits Manchester United Don’t Deserve Champions League Football. If Manchester United’s performance standards for the remainder of the season are comparable to what they displayed against Everton, Ralf Rangnick stated they do not deserve to finish in the Champions League places.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford were one of six changes to Manchester United’s starting lineup at Goodison Park, and the latter threatened twice early on, both times being stopped by England teammate Jordan Pickford.
However, the tide shifted decisively in Everton’s favor when Anthony Gordon opened the score with a deflected 27th-minute strike, which proved vital as the struggling Toffees grabbed a 1-0 triumph.
Rangnick was left to criticize a poor attacking performance against an Everton side that lost 3-2 at relegation rivals, Burnley, in midweek.
“Whenever we score the first goal, we had enough confidence and we won most of those games,” Rangnick said. “But when you concede the first goal, we lost a little bit of our composure and maybe confidence.
“With all respect to Everton because they have a good team, but if you don’t score against a team who conceded three goals against Burnley in the end you cannot expect to get anything out of it.
“The players themselves should be eager to play international football if possible Champions League.
“But if we play like we did here we just don’t deserve it. In order to qualify for Europe you have to be able to score in 95 minutes in a game like this.”
'Man Utd don’t DESERVE Champions League football' | Ralf Rangnick pic.twitter.com/koO33F5q4f
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Rashford, who has now scored just five goals in 28 appearances in all competitions this season, was energetic earlier on, but Ronaldo was generally kept quiet, and when he had a chance to equalize in added time, the Portuguese’s half-volley was saved by Pickford.
Rangnick bemoaned the attacking line’s wastefulness early on, admitting that Gordon’s opening altered the aspect of the game, with the spirit of the home crowd elevating the Everton players.