Every word from Ralf's press conference
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick held his media briefing on Friday afternoon ahead of this weekend’s visit of Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Antonio Conte’s side will make the trip up to Old Trafford for a 17:30 GMT kick-off, with plenty on the line in pursuit of a place in next season’s Champions League.
Prior to the game, the German answered questions from journalists during his press conference, which was held in person at Carrington for the second week in a row, after nearly two years of them being conducted via video link due to Covid-19.
In the first part of his latest meeting with the press, which you can watch and read in full below, before the second section is released at 22:30 GMT this (Friday) evening, Rangnick answered questions on several topics including the top-four race and Marcus Rashford, but, firstly, the current war in Ukraine...
Can I ask you about the situation in Russia and with Chelsea, and everything that is going on there? What is your view of what is happening at the moment with English football and what is happening in Ukraine and the impact that is having on events here?
"Well, to be honest, everybody, I think, shares the same opinion, that this is a tragedy, what's happening over there. Everybody can only say, fingers crossed, that they find somehow a peaceful solution once again. With all the measures that have been taken recently politically and with regard to the economy or whatever, it also now affects the football business in a way [which] seems to be logical to me. But again, I don't have enough inside information to speak about, for example, what is happening now at Chelsea. But if you look at it in a bigger picture, for me, it's just a human tragedy and I very, very much hope that in the next days and weeks that they can find a peaceful solution."
Prior to the game, the German answered questions from journalists during his press conference, which was held in person at Carrington for the second week in a row, after nearly two years of them being conducted via video link due to Covid-19.
In the first part of his latest meeting with the press, which you can watch and read in full below, before the second section is released at 22:30 GMT this (Friday) evening, Rangnick answered questions on several topics including the top-four race and Marcus Rashford, but, firstly, the current war in Ukraine...
Can I ask you about the situation in Russia and with Chelsea, and everything that is going on there? What is your view of what is happening at the moment with English football and what is happening in Ukraine and the impact that is having on events here?
"Well, to be honest, everybody, I think, shares the same opinion, that this is a tragedy, what's happening over there. Everybody can only say, fingers crossed, that they find somehow a peaceful solution once again. With all the measures that have been taken recently politically and with regard to the economy or whatever, it also now affects the football business in a way [which] seems to be logical to me. But again, I don't have enough inside information to speak about, for example, what is happening now at Chelsea. But if you look at it in a bigger picture, for me, it's just a human tragedy and I very, very much hope that in the next days and weeks that they can find a peaceful solution."
Part one: Ralf’s press conference before Spurs (H) Video
Part one: Ralf’s press conference before Spurs (H)
Ralf discusses four players, as well as some important non-footballing topics, before the Spurs game...
As someone who works for a football club, are managers going to have to think about the clubs that they work for, and the background of the clubs that they work for before they go and work for them? Because obviously Thomas Tuchel is now in the position of having to answer numerous questions about the behaviour of the owners at Chelsea. Other managers have had to do that before. Is that something people are going to have to do? You worked in Russia for instance. How does that work?
“Had anyone in this room or wherever... could anybody foresee what was happening there in the last three or four weeks? Nobody would have expected that to happen. And, therefore, I think we should be very careful to blame somebody for doing this or that. This couldn't have been foreseen and Roman Abramovich has been the owner. Of course, it affects everything. It affects football, it affects the way that gas and oil is being delivered to European countries. In the end, it affects everybody. Right now, here in England or in Germany or other European countries, although we are only two-and-a-half hours away from Ukraine, it doesn't affect us, as yet, directly. But I would be surprised if, in the next couple of weeks and months, suppose the war goes on, it wouldn't affect us all at one stage."
On the game tomorrow, how important is it in your opinion for the Premier League season? And the four players who missed last weekend, will they be available?
"We are fully aware about the importance of tomorrow's game. At the same time, the game on Tuesday. But now the most important game is the game tomorrow against Tottenham. We have to win that game, we are fully aware of that. We had a good week of training. The players are also fully aware about the importance of the game. The focus is there, the togetherness was there in the training sessions. So, with regard to players, we will still miss out Luke Shaw. He's until yesterday still being tested positive with Covid. Scotty [McTominay] is a question mark, he had some problems with his calf so we have to wait and see until after training today. Right now, it is more likely that he will not be available because if we risk him tomorrow, he will more likely be out for the game on Tuesday, that's why I tend, with muscular issues - even more so if it's the calf muscle - I tend to be careful."
“Had anyone in this room or wherever... could anybody foresee what was happening there in the last three or four weeks? Nobody would have expected that to happen. And, therefore, I think we should be very careful to blame somebody for doing this or that. This couldn't have been foreseen and Roman Abramovich has been the owner. Of course, it affects everything. It affects football, it affects the way that gas and oil is being delivered to European countries. In the end, it affects everybody. Right now, here in England or in Germany or other European countries, although we are only two-and-a-half hours away from Ukraine, it doesn't affect us, as yet, directly. But I would be surprised if, in the next couple of weeks and months, suppose the war goes on, it wouldn't affect us all at one stage."
On the game tomorrow, how important is it in your opinion for the Premier League season? And the four players who missed last weekend, will they be available?
"We are fully aware about the importance of tomorrow's game. At the same time, the game on Tuesday. But now the most important game is the game tomorrow against Tottenham. We have to win that game, we are fully aware of that. We had a good week of training. The players are also fully aware about the importance of the game. The focus is there, the togetherness was there in the training sessions. So, with regard to players, we will still miss out Luke Shaw. He's until yesterday still being tested positive with Covid. Scotty [McTominay] is a question mark, he had some problems with his calf so we have to wait and see until after training today. Right now, it is more likely that he will not be available because if we risk him tomorrow, he will more likely be out for the game on Tuesday, that's why I tend, with muscular issues - even more so if it's the calf muscle - I tend to be careful."
It sounds like then Cristiano [Ronaldo] will be back. This week there has been a lot of talk about him and his situation at the club, is there any issues there? How’s he been? Is he fully fit?
"Yeah, he resumed training yesterday. He trained for the whole session, and I expect him to be in training today as well. He trained well like the rest of the group so I would have thought that he's available for tomorrow."
Is there any issues with him?
"Issues, what do you mean issues?"
Just lots of talk about happiness as well as fitness...
"I haven't asked him if he's happy at Manchester, at this club. For me it's important that he's fit again, and he resumed training yesterday. Then we will see with which formation and which line-up we are going to play tomorrow."
Following up on Cristiano, there's a suggestion that the club were not aware he was going back to Portugal. Can you just clarify the situation?
"No, because it doesn't make sense to look back at what was happening in the last six or seven days. It's important what's happening today and tomorrow. For me, it doesn't make sense at all to go through all this again. What's important is that he, and Edi [Cavani] by the way, are both back in training and are both available for the game."
"Yeah, he resumed training yesterday. He trained for the whole session, and I expect him to be in training today as well. He trained well like the rest of the group so I would have thought that he's available for tomorrow."
Is there any issues with him?
"Issues, what do you mean issues?"
Just lots of talk about happiness as well as fitness...
"I haven't asked him if he's happy at Manchester, at this club. For me it's important that he's fit again, and he resumed training yesterday. Then we will see with which formation and which line-up we are going to play tomorrow."
Following up on Cristiano, there's a suggestion that the club were not aware he was going back to Portugal. Can you just clarify the situation?
"No, because it doesn't make sense to look back at what was happening in the last six or seven days. It's important what's happening today and tomorrow. For me, it doesn't make sense at all to go through all this again. What's important is that he, and Edi [Cavani] by the way, are both back in training and are both available for the game."
Rangnick delivers team news update
ArticleOur interim manager discusses Ronaldo and Cavani ahead of the Spurs clash and has a fresh major doubt.
Can I ask about Marcus Rashford, because he would have been disappointed not to start against Manchester City? What does he have to do to get back in your side?
"To play on the same level that he trains. This is all. We spoke about that a week ago or two weeks ago in a press conference. Marcus is training well, he's got abundant talent, he's got almost everything that you need as a modern striker. For him, it's only about transforming the performance of the training sessions into the regular games."
Would you accept that Arsenal are now favourites for fourth place with their two games in hand and their current form? You’re playing catch-up a little bit…
“Yes, but not only us, the same is true with two or three other clubs. Right now, they seem to be in the best possible position but there’s still 10 games to play. We are fully aware that we have to look after ourselves and make sure that we do not drop points anymore.”
"To play on the same level that he trains. This is all. We spoke about that a week ago or two weeks ago in a press conference. Marcus is training well, he's got abundant talent, he's got almost everything that you need as a modern striker. For him, it's only about transforming the performance of the training sessions into the regular games."
Would you accept that Arsenal are now favourites for fourth place with their two games in hand and their current form? You’re playing catch-up a little bit…
“Yes, but not only us, the same is true with two or three other clubs. Right now, they seem to be in the best possible position but there’s still 10 games to play. We are fully aware that we have to look after ourselves and make sure that we do not drop points anymore.”
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