Rangnick urges fans to stop abusing

RALF RANGNICK called on United fans to stop targeting Paul Pogba after the Frenchman responded to boos as he was substituted.

Pogba, out of contract at the end of the season and set to leave, sarcastically cupped his ear towards fans as he walked towards the tunnel at full-time having had to listen to chants of ‘f*** off Pogba’ when he was replaced at 2-2 midway through the second half. Rangnick said: ‘The fans are amazing and I can fully understand them being frustrated and disappointed but I don’t think it makes any sense to take on any individual person or player.

‘It is a collective responsibility so I will always defend and protect my players. I didn’t see what he did at the end of the game but I heard about it. It was his reaction to the chanting during the game. I actually thought Paul did quite well in possession during the game. It wasn’t his best position of No8 but

we had no Fred or Scotty (McTominay) so I had to make a choice.’

United moved to within three points of a Champions League spot with the narrow win against the Premier League’s bottom team on a day of anti-Glazer protests at Old Trafford. But Rangnick isn’t counting on a late surge, with Liverpool up next at Anfield on Tuesday.

‘Everyone has seen today’s game and knows what sort of team we are playing next. If we play like today, it will be very difficult to get even a point. This is what we have to be realistic and aware of. We need to raise our standards.’

Rangnick said of Ronaldo: ‘He made the difference once again. Cristiano has one year left on his contract and it will be a decision for the next manager and the board. It is no coincidence that he has the best scoring record in history.’

Norwich boss Dean Smith has to produce snookers to get his team

out of trouble now and said: ‘I am pleased with our performance but disappointed with the result. We could have been better in both boxes — Ronaldo will get the plaudits but he’s had a couple of goals handed on a plate.’

He felt Tim Krul could have kept out Ronaldo’s winning free-kick after getting fingertips to it.

‘It might sound harsh but when it is the goalkeeper’s side, I probably feel he could have done better and by his standards, he probably thinks that as well,’ added Smith.