MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Manchester United interim supervisor Ralf Rangnick rejected any suggestion that there was extra to Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from his group for Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City than a hip injury.
Former United captain Roy Keane had questioned how real the injury was throughout the Sky Sports broadcast of the derby, saying: “We discuss Ronaldo being some form of machine, he is very not often injured after which each once in a while he comes out… and says hip flexor. It doesn’t add as much as me.”
Keane made related feedback after the sport and Rangnick was requested in his information convention to reply.
“The doctor came to see me on Friday and told me Cristiano cannot train due to a problem with his hip flexor and the same was true on Saturday and that’s why he couldn’t be part of the squad,” Rangnick stated.
“It’s only a reality if gamers inform the medical division that they’re injured and so they can not play I’ve to simply accept it,” he added.
United have been additionally with out their Uruguayan ahead Edinson Cavani as a consequence of injury however Rangnick stated he had been match sufficient to coach.
“Edi skilled within the final three days, he skilled properly however he nonetheless felt after these three coaching periods yesterday afternoon that he’s nonetheless not match to play. This is a reality. As a supervisor, I can not pressure a participant if he doesn’t really feel match sufficient or properly sufficient to play,” stated the German.
United have slipped out of the highest 4 after their loss and Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Watford left them a degree behind the Gunners having performed three video games extra and Rangnick stated there was little room for error.
“I didn’t really count on Arsenal to lose at Watford so for us it’s clear, if we nonetheless need to have an opportunity to complete fourth on the finish of the season, we will virtually not drop any extra factors,” he stated.
(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Toby Davis)
