Ralf Rangnick sends message to Manchester United players with contracts expiring

Ralf Rangnick insists the Manchester United dressing room remains harmonious, despite the fact some of his players are battling for a future at the club beyond the end of the season.

There have been reports of rifts within the dressing room throughout what has been a turbulent campaign at Old Trafford but Rangnick believes it is a tight-knit squad. The players are on to their second manager of the season in Rangnick, having seen Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked in November, and there will be more upheaval this summer when a permanent manager is appointed.

That could lead to more churn in the transfer market and some players will need to make a statement to the next manager in the final 11 Premier League games of the season.

READ MORE: Rangnick tells United to change transfer strategy to catch City

"Of course, it should be the case in professional football all the time. Players should know they have to perform to play, or for a new contract — or to be kept in the club. That should be the case all the time in professional football," said Rangnick.

"But now for us, it’s about getting the best out of this current squad. I can assure you the atmosphere in the locker room, the focus in training, we have no issues.

"All that about outside noises, about players not being focused in training, is not correct. They get on well with each other, they have a full focus in every session. It’s about — with our kind of football, with the areas we have improved — getting the best possible result in the coming games."

Rangnick leads United into his first Manchester derby today having lost just one of his 17 games in charge, although performances have been inconsistent and there have been too many draws against sides United were expected to