Ralf Rangnick reacts to Wayne Rooney’s Manchester United comments and addresses Donny van de Beek’s future

Ralf Rangnick insists it is ‘normal’ for former players and pundits to question and criticise Manchester United after Wayne Rooney discussed the club’s managerial search and questioned Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba.

Speaking ahead of United’s trip to Goodison Park to face struggling Everton on Saturday, Rangnick also praised Donny van de Beek but stopped short of guaranteeing his fellow Dutchman that he had a future at Old Trafford.

Red Devils legend Rooney appeared on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football earlier in the week and offered his views on Manchester United’s struggles this season, the club’s search for a manager and the future of superstars Ronaldo and Pogba.

Somewhat surprisingly, Rooney claimed Ronaldo’s Old Trafford return had not been a success and said his former club need to look to ‘younger, hungry players’ as they look to make up ground on Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea following another disappointing campaign.

Rooney also said it would be best for all parties if World Cup winner Pogba left Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of the season, while he backed Mauricio Pochettino to take over the reins ahead of United’s No. 1 target Erik ten Hag.

Asked about Rooney’s comments, and in particular his insistence that United should back youth going forward, Rangnick said: ‘It doesn’t make sense to speak about that [subject] again.

‘That former players or pundits are telling their opinions on our current situation is normal, that happens at other clubs as well. But for me and for us the focus is on tomorrow and the next games.’

Rangnick says he has spoken to the board ‘and they know what I think needs to happen in the summer’, but insisted final decision on players would be made by his