Ralf reflects on Everton defeat

Despite starting the brighter of the two sides, United were pegged back by a deflected Anthony Gordon goal in the first half, and despite the Reds pushing hard for an equaliser, Everton were able to see out the narrow victory.

The result means that Rangnick’s side are now heavily reliant on the results of top-four rivals in the race for Champions League qualification.

THE GOAL KNOCKED OUR CONFIDENCE

“I think we had a good start to the game. We had good control over the game in the first 25 minutes, and should’ve created more opportunities. Then we conceded a deflected shot, and after that, lost a little bit of our composure and our stride. Second half we were trying to add more creativity and more verticality with our substitutions but didn’t always find and choose the right moment and didn’t take the right decision.”

NO EXCUSES

“I don't think [manager speculation] should be an excuse. We are Manchester United. We have lots of international players, this cannot be an alibi and an excuse. We shouldn’t be distracted by that, there will be a new manager next season. If this is announced now or in 10, or 14, or in 20 days it should have no effect on a game like this one today."

THE TOP-FOUR RACE

“We are dependent on the other results but as long as we aren’t winning our own games, we will never have good results from the other teams. The only thing we can do is stick together. That’s all we can do and prepare for the Norwich game.”

WE SHOULD’VE CAPITALISED ON PRESSURE

“We knew that we knew from the last couple of years what kind of atmosphere exists in this stadium. In the first 25 minutes, you could feel they were a little bit crumbling, that there was some nervousness even from the stands, but this doesn’t help if you don’t score. That’s what we have to blame ourselves for, that we didn’t score a goal. And if you don’t score a goal in 95 minutes against a team that conceded three goals at Burnley, then at the end you don’t deserve to win.”

FRED'S INJURY

“It seems to be some muscular issue on his hip flexor, probably, I don’t know exactly what it is, but from the way that he explained it to me it seems to be a muscular problem. After Scott McTominay, missing a second defensive midfielder, let’s hope that they will not be out for too long.”

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

“Well, I said to the team we have to stick together, try to get better, to find more solutions in possession of the ball and our problem right now is not so much that we concede too many goals. Yes, with a clean sheet we would have had a point today but even a point would not have been enough., The last few games we’ve struggled to score goals and to create chances. I think we were better at that four or five weeks ago - even against Watford at home - but today we just didn’t create enough opportunities ourselves.”