Ralf Rangnick: United’s lack of goals is not just Cristiano Ronaldo’s problem

Ralf Rangnick says Cristiano Ronaldo is not to blame for Manchester United’s lack of goals as the interim manager called for the side to find their cutting edge against Southampton.

Profligacy in front of goal twice proved costly in the last week as the Red Devils failed to capitalise on dominant first halves in the shock FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough and Tuesday’s 1-1 league draw at rock-bottom Burnley.

United have scored more than once in just three of their nine league matches under interim boss Rangnick, while star name Ronaldo has gone five games without a goal in all competitions.

The top-four hopefuls desperately need something to click in front of goal on Saturday lunchtime against Saints, who were beaten 9-0 on their last visit to Old Trafford.

“It’s not only about Cristiano Ronaldo,” said Rangnick, who brushed aside reports of player dissatisfaction with training and some apparently likening assistant Chris Armas to fictional American coach Ted Lasso.

“I mean, that we should score more goals is obvious. I think we are creating enough chances and enough opportunities in the last couple of games but we just didn’t score enough goals.

“But this is not only an issue with Cristiano, it’s also an issue with all the other players, especially with the offensive players, that we do not score enough goals if you bear in mind how many chances we create.

“This is also something that needs to get better in the next couple of weeks.

“What we played in both first halves and even at Burnley I would say in 70 of those 90 minutes, it was very, very, very close to the game plan that we had spoken about before the game.

“And now it’s about rewarding ourselves and getting also the results that we should deserve.”

United enter the