The German took interim charge of the Reds in early December and has since been tasked with implementing his principles on the side, right in the thick of one of the traditionally busier periods of the season.

Since his arrival last month, the club has also had to navigate through several fixture postponements, as well as overcoming a COVID outbreak within the camp. 

The prior circumstances have naturally limited the time that Rangnick has had to get his ideas across to the players, but despite that, Ronaldo and co have only suffered one defeat in the last seven matches, across three competitions. 

 

"I believe that he's going to do a good job."#MUFC's Cristiano Ronaldo says a change of manager at the club has been hard but that Ralf Rangnick needs to be given time to turn things around. 🔴⏰ pic.twitter.com/HEJmUV8OaA

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 12, 2022

Our no.7 has acknowledged the room for improvement still and believes that will come with the more opportunities our interim boss has to get his messages across to the Reds.

"He arrived five weeks ago, and he changed many things, but he needs time to put his ideas to the players,” Ronaldo says in a new interview with Premier League Productions.

"It takes time, but I believe that he is going to do a good job. We know we aren't playing the best football, but we have many games to improve.

"Since he arrived, I think in some points we are better, but he needs time. It's not that easy to change the mentality of players and the way they play, the system and the culture like that. I believe that he is going to do a good job.”

Although a period of adaptation is necessary, Cristiano sees no reason why the Reds can’t provide instant success under Rangnick over the coming months. 

United have fixtures in the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Champions League on the schedule in the lead up to the summer and our determined forward is keen for he and his team-mates to record a fruitful second half to the campaign. 

"I still believe that we are capable of doing a good season. We knew it was going to take time to make the ideas of the new coach on the pitch,” the Portuguese admits. 

"But I'm looking forward. We have to be professional, we have to work hard, we have to be together as players to change the page. 

“We know we are not in the best moment, but I believe with working hard we can achieve important things, even this year."

 

🗣 "I don't accept less than the top three."

Cristiano Ronaldo says that #MUFC should not accept anything less than a top three finish in the Premier League this season.pic.twitter.com/wKVHPiGCQt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 13, 2022

Upon his return to the club in the summer, the 36-year-old expressed that he came back to Old Trafford to win titles and add to the glory of his trophy-ladened first spell in Manchester.

That hasn’t changed since and having helped United to reach the top in the past, Ronaldo is hoping to play his part in getting the Reds back to where we belong.  

"I don't accept that our mentality be less than to be in the top three in the Premier League.

"[It’s a] new year, [we have] new life and I hope that Manchester [United] can be the level that people want, especially the fans. They deserve that.

"We are capable of changing things now. We can do it better, all of us. Manchester [United] belongs to important things, so we have to change that," he adds.

"I don't want to be here to be in the club to fight to be in sixth place, or seventh place, or fifth place. I'm here to try to win, to compete.

"I think we compete, but we are not yet in our best level. But we have a long way to improve, and I believe if we change our mind, we can achieve big things."