Why can’t we score?
Ronaldo throws another strop as United flop at home again
RALF RANGNICK won’t face the same consequences for failure against Watford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but it was a damaging blow to Manchester United’s Champions League aspirations.
Only three of United’s 22 shots were on target as the Hornets picked up a valiant point in their battle against relegation.
Bruno Fernandes spurned three wonderful opportunities while Cristiano Ronaldo went through his repertoire of tantrums as his poor scoring run was extended to one goal in 10 games.
United boss Rangnick, who had described this as a must-win game with trips to Manchester City and Liverpool next, ended with a front four but to no avail.
They are still only two points ahead of fifth-place Arsenal but have played three games more. At least they don’t have to face Roy Hodgson again this season. The 74-year-old is unbeaten in his last four visits to Old Trafford.
‘It feels once again like two points dropped. We should have won,’ said a despairing Rangnick. ‘We dominated completely apart from the last five minutes.’
United have lost only once in 15 games under Rangnick since a 4-1 defeat at Vicarage Road in November cost Solskjaer his job. But the boos at full-time showed the mood is still unhappy.
The home side could have wrapped up the points in the first 20 minutes. Ronaldo produced a great first touch in the box before clipping the post. Fernandes had only Ben Foster to beat when set
up by Anthony Elanga but the goalkeeper blocked his effort with an outstretched left arm.
Fernandes crossed for Ronaldo to score but the goal was ruled out for offside. Fernandes then made a run into the box but hooked Paul Pogba’s pass wide.
Watford weathered the early storm to please Hodgson enough for him to give a thumbs up from the technical area.
Craig Cathcart’s slip allowed Ronaldo to round Foster after 27 minutes but with the angle too tight, he dinked a cross towards Fernandes who headed over.
Ronaldo’s frustration was shown moments later when he was unable to take advantage of a Foster spill and waved his arms about in frustration. He pouted in the second half when he didn’t get a penalty after Hassane Kamara’s tackle from behind. By the 67th minute, when Christian Kabasele deflected the ball on to his leg and it rolled gently towards Foster, Ronaldo was laughing at the injustice of it all.
Watford lived dangerously but showed plenty of fight to suggest their ambition to stay in the top flight is not a forlorn hope.
There was a perfectly-timed tackle by Cathcart which robbed Elanga, and Emmanuel Dennis could have even given them a surprise lead when David de Gea saved the visitors’ first effort on target after 53 minutes.
Elanga missed a glorious opening for United after Pogba’s flick put him clear before Rangnick went for broke, having originally rested some of his regulars.
Jadon Sancho was the first to be introduced with Marcus Rashford later joining him. Ronaldo and Rashford played down the middle flanked by Sancho and Fernandes. But it was too frenetic with Pogba as the sole holding midfielder. Ronaldo’s shot was blocked by Kamara,
Fernandes was stopped by Samir and then Sancho put a cross behind his two strikers.
‘We dealt with the pressure quite brilliantly,’ said Hodgson. ‘United are blessed with superstars but our hard work meant we leave with a very important point.
‘It wasn’t rocket science but it took a lot for the players to produce that performance.’
Captain Harry Maguire was left out to keep him fresh for next Sunday’s derby at Manchester City.
United players posed with a ‘peace flag’ in solidarity with Ukraine before kick-off. The banner is understood to have been drawn up by Rangnick’s family, with the club supporting his wish to show support.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Lindelof 7.5, Varane 6, Telles 6 (Shaw 74min); Matic 6.5 (Rashford 74), Fred 7 (Sancho 63, 6); Elanga 6.5, Fernandes 7, Pogba 7; Ronaldo 6.5. Subs (not used): Henderson, Dalot, Jones, Maguire, Mata, Lingard.
WATFORD (4-5-1): Foster 7; Ngakia 6 (Kabasele 63, 7), Cathcart 6, Samir 7, Kamara 6.5; Sarr 6, Louza 6, Sissoko 7, Cleverley 6.5 (Kucka 80), King 6 (Sema 63); Dennis 6.5. Subs (not used): Bachmann, Troost-Ekong, Masina, Kucka, Pedro, Hernandez, Kayembe.
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire) 7.