Rangnick defends Lingard Old Trafford decision

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has dismissed criticism that it was "classless" to deny Jesse Lingard an Old Trafford send-off earlier this week.

Lingard is one of several players due to leave United this summer as his contract expires in June, but although Rangnick gave Juan Mata and Phil Jones farewell home appearances in the 3-0 win over Brentford on Monday night, Edinson Cavani got the nod ahead of Lingard with 15 minutes to go.

That prompted Lingard's brother Louie Scott to hit out at Rangnick on social media, pointing to Lingard's two decades of service since he joined United aged seven in 2000.

Lingard has been a frustrated figure at Old Trafford this season. He was promised the opportunity of more first-team football after impressing on loan at West Ham last term, but has only made only four starts all season.

Rangnick said: "To start with, in the last couple of weeks under my tenure he has played far more games than he used to.

"Secondly, on game day against Chelsea (on 28 April) he asked me to release him from the game and training the following day for personal family reasons.

"And this was the reason. With only three substitutes I had to take a decision between Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard, or the young (Alejandro Garnacho), who I would have loved to have brought on and given a chance to play.

"I took the decision to bring on Edinson. Had I not brought on Edinson someone else might have asked if it's classless not to bring on Cavani or Garnacho. You have to take a decision and this will not be to the liking of everybody - and this is part of the game."

Lingard could come into contention for Saturday's trip to Brighton, with Marcus Rashford ruled out as he has bronchitis and Jadon Sancho rated as