Boss Ralf Rangnick blames lack of attacking options after 1-1 draw v Leicester severely dents Man United’s hopes of Top 4 finish for Champions League
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford (left) reacts after missed scoring opportunity against Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick bemoaned his lack of attacking options after a 1-1 draw against Leicester on Saturday badly damaged their hopes of securing Champions League football for next season. Kelechi Iheanacho put the visitors in front in the second half, but although Fred equalised just three minutes later, neither side could find a winner.
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Three points behind Arsenal
Rangnick’s misfiring side are three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have two games in hand, but the German interim manager said they would continue to fight for the top four even though it was an uphill task.
Ralf Rangnick
“In the last 15 minutes, we tried to score a goal, but in this game we could not score the late goal. We don’t have the offensive players and even Jesse Lingard was feeling sick. As long as it [top four] is possible mathematically, it is possible. It is our job and duty to do our best to finish on the best possible note,” he told Sky Sports. United are hunting for a new permanent manager, with Ajax boss Erik ten Hag emerging as a clear favourite, and the team’s shortcomings were all too obvious against Brendan Rodgers’ team.
The home side, missing top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo through illness, looked anaemic in attack for most of the first half as they struggled to establish any attacking rhythm. Bruno Fernandes, who signed a new deal this week, was put through by Fred in the 27th minute but the Portuguese playmaker failed to make good contact and Kasper Schmeichel saved with his outstretched left foot. Minutes later Leicester had a chance to take the lead but Iheanacho failed to control the ball on the edge of the area and ended up skewing his shot wide.
Goalless at half-time
The sides remained deadlocked at 0-0 at the interval. United looked sharper in the early stages of the second half but midfielder Scott McTominay was lucky to stay on the pitch after a nasty-looking challenge on James Maddison. Marcus Rashford was brought on by Rangnick to replace McTominay and add extra zip to the home side’s attack. But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 63rd minute when a United attack broke down and Maddison attacked down the left.
Other key result
>> West Ham 2-1 Everton
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