RALF AND MARCELO UNITED IN STRUGGLE

MANCHESTER UNITED have their problems this season, and I’ve always thought Paul Pogba is chief among them.

The Red Devils’ game against Leeds United this afternoon is one where the two managers find themselves under real pressure.

In fact, I don’t think Ralf Rangnick OR Marcelo Bielsa will be at their respective clubs as manager come the summer… quite possibly because they are victims of unbearable expectation.

Rangnick (top, left) followed Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp into the Premier League – and both praised his influence on themselves and German football.

Tuchel was even given a job by Rangnick, so I can imagine the phone calls now. Ralf on the blower to Tuchel, saying that as much as it’s nice he’s giving him the big build-up, it’s killing him because the United fans expect a Tuchel-level transformation.

Ralf will probably be on to Klopp too, asking if there’s any way he can stop English supporters believing all German managers have the Midas touch.

It’s the same with Bielsa (top, right). When you get Pep Guardiola saying you are one of the greatest coaches of all time, there’s huge expectation.

Neither of them have lived up to it. For Rangnick, it was always going to be difficult turning the Reds around without a big influx of talent in January.

The team he’s inherited is completely unbalanced. Pogba is a cause of that, but a victim too, because it is hard to fit him into a midfield pair. Rangnick’s work will continue beyond this season, but in an executive role.

As for Bielsa, you look at his record and he hasn’t won much.

He hasn’t stuck around long anywhere either – when the going gets difficult, he tends to move on. Watching Leeds at Everton last week, it looks like the going is getting very tough.

They could be dragged into the relegation scrap.

Given he only signs one-year contracts, I wouldn’t be surprised if he departs Elland Road at the end of the season.