Red Devils ‘second best’ in physical side of game, admits Rangnick

MANCHESTER United manager Ralf Rangnick has admitted Leicester City outwitted his side physically in Saturday’s clash at Old Trafford, writes Amie Wilson.

City came away from the 1-1 draw disappointed not to have taken all three points from the game, especially after seeing a goal ruled out after a VAR check.

Kelechi Iheanacho was adjudged to have fouled United defender Raphael

Varane as he battled for the ball before playing in James Maddison.

It was Iheanacho who opened the scoring in the second half, the striker diving to head in Maddison’s brilliant cross to give City the lead.

The goal came after both Youri Tielemans and Kiernan DewsburyHall won tackles in the middle of the park to stop a Man United counter attack.

Those were incidents that Rangnick referred to when addressing one of United’s problems against City.

“I don’t think we have a lack of character but what was obvious in some parts of the game is that we were second best with regards to physicality,” he said.

“It was about one on one duels. We spoke about that counter-attacking moment we had ourselves where they tackled us twice, within two seconds, and the same was true in quite a few other moments.

“Whenever there was body contact, we were too often we were second best.

“This is something we have to get better at for the rest of this season but even more so for the next season.”

When asked specifically about Dewsbury-Hall’s tackle on Bruno Fernandes which led to the goal, Rangnick also pointed to other incidents. “Yeah, but the same was true with Fred and he is one of our physical and aggressive players but I am not only talking about this specific moment,” he added.

“There were quite a few other moments where I just felt we could have been more dynamic, more physical, more aggressive but we weren’t in those moments.” ■■Email your views about City to: