DIVIDED SQUAD A BIG HEADACHE FOR RALF

treatment under Rangnick, which has led to divisions within the United dressing room. Many of the players are underwhelmed by the 63-year-old German’s coaching, unimpressed by his tactics, and his position is further weakened by his appointment only being until the end of the season.

Defender Luke Shaw admited United’s players were not “pulling together” in Monday’s 1-0 home defeat to Wolves, and the source said: “It’s not good. The atmosphere is really bad and it looks like there are going to be big problems ahead for United.”

Jesse Lingard, Donny van de Beek, Eric Bailly and keeper Dean Henderson are among those players who have become frustrated at their failure to be given a chance under Rangnick.

Former manager Solskjaer was accused of having ‘favourites’ and sticking with them, despite United’s below-par displays, and now Rangnick is facing the identical problem with the same group of players.

Lingard and Van de Beek have yet to start a Premier League game this season, while Henderson wants to go out on loan this month after falling back behind David De Gea in the pecking order.

Rangnick is unwilling to let Henderson leave, but the 24-year-old is desperate to play regularly, to ensure he is included in England’s World Cup squad for Qatar in December. Defender Bailly, who is now on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, is another player who has become disillusioned at not playing enough, despite United’s poor defensive displays without him.

The resentment felt by players who have been consistently overlooked for selection is threatening the unity and harmony of the dressing room, with Shaw (inset) suggesting there are issues within the group.

Ex-United captain Gary Neville pointed to divisions within the squad after a 1-1 draw at second-from-bottom Newcastle on December 27 and hinted at issues between Cristiano Ronaldo and skipper Harry Maguire.

Ronaldo (above left) has cut a frustrated figure in recent days, heading straight down the tunnel at the final whistle against Wolves, his annoyance with certain team-mates evident in the defeat.

Writing to his 386million Instagram followers, the Portugal superstar called for “a higher spirit and a stronger mentality” from United in 2022, but they have started the New Year in the worst possible way.