Ralf Rangnick addresses Manchester United manager situation after Everton loss

Ralf Rangnick insists the managerial situation at Manchester United cannot excuse the players' dire performances.

United have won three of their last 12 games and triumphed in only nine of Rangnick's 22 games in interim charge. Ajax coach Erik ten Hag is expected to take over as manager in the summer but an official announcement is not expected imminently.

Rangnick took over as interim manager in early December and that experiment has failed in another trophyless season, with United destined not to qualify for the Champions League.

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"No, I don't see any connection between this issue and I don't think that we should allow anyone to have that alibi, or that excuse," Rangnick stressed. "A new manager will come and it doesn't matter if this will be announced in five days or 10 days or 20 days.

"The players should be eager to play in the Champions League but if we play like we did today we just don't deserve it. To qualify for Europe you have to be able to score in 95 minutes."

The temporary away dressing room at Goodison Park is situated by the away end and some United supporters appeared agitated at full-time as the players walked off the pitch.

Rangnick lamented United's defeat at 17th-placed Everton three days after Frank Lampard's side let a 2-1 lead slip to lose 3-2 at Burnley, a point below them at kick-off on Saturday.

Although United have not finalised a deal with their next manager, Rangnick has presented his findings to the board after managing the squad for four months and uncertainty is rife over a number of players' futures.

“I don’t think the place intimidated the players," Rangnick added. "My feeling is that we struggle with the level of expectation. Once you are 1-0