RASHFORD AND MAGUIRE DENY LOCKER ROOM SPLIT RUMORS AS RANGNICK WEIGHS IN
Manchester United players Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire have recently come out and denied rumors circulating in the media that the team is split in a power struggle with 5-time Ballon D’or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk, reported on Wednesday that English players in the Manchester United dressing room including Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire were irritated by Ronaldo’s insistence on leading the dressing room with a clique of his own and that there’s a risk of a split forming amongst the players.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford came out and denied the rumors. He said, “Are we just making it up as we go along now then? Please stop looking for divides.”
Falk came out in response to the 24-year-old, writing on Twitter: “Not true and you know it.”
Harry Maguire did not respond to the Munich-based reporter but after The Mirror broke the news on Thursday that Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire were in a row over the captaincy at the club, he broke his silence. A source told The Mirror that Cristiano Ronaldo had originally asked the players to back Harry Maguire as captain, with Rangnick asking the 37-year-old to mentor the younger players, Maguire was left in no man’s land and having to do whatever Ronaldo says.
The 28-year-old England international in turn stated, “I’ve seen a lot of reports about this club that aren’t true and this is another. Not going to start posting about everything that is written but I need to make this one clear. We’re united and focused on Sunday.”
United manager Ralf Rangnick commented on the rumors during Friday’s press conference: “To start with, I have to say that this is absolute nonsense. I have never spoken with any player about a possible change of captaincy and Harry is fully aware of that. So is Cristiano. And all the other players. This has never been an issue… Harry is our captain and he will stay our captain until the end of the season. There is nothing else to add onto that.”
Asked whether he was frustrated by the rumors, the United boss said: “I’m not frustrated at all because I know that it’s not the truth. I told you already about Harry being the captain. This is not an issue at all and has never been an issue for us and for myself as the manager. All the other things, to be honest, I don’t listen to that noise that much because my full focus is on preparing the team for the next training and for the next game.”
”For us it’s about performing well, showing togetherness on the pitch, getting the best out of our performance, and winning games. This is our job. Those are the things that we can influence. All the other things we have no influence upon.”
Manchester United find themselves mired in a slump with Tuesday’s 2-0 win against 10-men Brighton the only win in their past 3 games in the league. Following the victory, in which Ronaldo scored the first goal, he took to social media and wrote: “Back on track! Nobody gives up and there’s only one way to get back on track: hard work, teamwork, serious work. Everything else is just noise. Let’s go, Devils!”
United are next in action against longtime rival Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday as they look to secure crucial points in their fight for the top four. United sit fourth on the log with 43 points, two points ahead of fifth-placed West Ham and 4 points ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal who have 3 games in hand.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero