Rangnick insists manager uncertainty no excuse for more Man United woe

Ralf Rangnick insisted that the lack of clarity over who the next permanent Manchester United manager will be is no excuse for another poor performance from his side in their 1-0 defeat to Everton on Saturday. The German interim, who had not coached a team since RB Leipzig in 2018-19, took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November ahead of what is expected to be a two-year consultancy role from next season at the club.

But he has been unable to rouse United from their slumber. Rangnick has won just eight of his first 17 Premier League games as United boss – the lowest win percentage (47%) of any manager for the club in the competition.

It is unclear who the next permanent United manager will be, with the club insisting that no decision has been made despite British media reports that Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag is being lined up. "I don't see any connection between this (new manager search) and today's display, and I will not allow anyone to have this as an alibi or excuse," Rangnick told reporters.

"It doesn't matter if the new manager will be announced in five, 15 or 20 days, the players should be eager to play Champions League, but as long as we play like today they don't deserve it. "Whenever we score first we have the confidence to win games, but when we concede first we lose our way a bit.

If you don't score against a team who conceded three against Burnley in midweek then you don't deserve anything." United started well at Goodison, but after falling behind to Anthony Gordon's deflected strike in the first half, Rangnick's team never really looked like getting back into the game. Sitting seventh, United are now on course for their worst season finish since 1991 given their average points per game earned,