Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick claims that his players lacked intensity during the win against Norwich City.
The Red Devils picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win against the Canaries at Carrow Road last night, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a crucial penalty in the second half.
The performance was far from ideal and United’s interim manager Rangnick feels that the players were less aggressive than they were against Crystal Palace.
Rangnick commented (h/t The Daily Mail): “The body language, the intensity, the aggressiveness, especially in our offensive department – I don’t only mean the strikers but also the two No 10s – we didn’t play on the same intensity level as we did against Crystal Palace. But that also had to do with the way Norwich played.”
The German manager also had special praise for David de Gea, who he thinks was the match-winner against Norwich.
The Spanish goalkeeper put on a terrific display against Dean Smith’s side, eventually helping United hold on to a thin lead.
Rangnick added: “In the second half we had better body language up front but we still allowed them to have chances. In the end it is David De Gea who won us the game.”
Gary Neville critical of United’s performance against the Canaries
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has been left disappointed with United’s performance against Norwich, especially after an impressive debut for Rangnick against Crystal Palace last week.
Neville said (h/t Sky Sports): “It wasn’t a good performance. Against any other team in the league that would have caused them real problems. They go to Brentford on Tuesday night and they have to do better than that otherwise they will get beaten. I do think they will.
“We were told before the first game and all week that United will be high energy and high press. That did not exist today. It was a really strange one to understand what happened out there on the ball and off it.”
Rangnick is off to an impressive start at Old Trafford, winning back to back Premier League games and also drew against Young Boys in the Champions League.
The Red Devils will travel to Brentford for their next Premier League game on Wednesday.
