Rangnick opens up on Matic's exit decision
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has provided his personal insight into Nemanja Matic’s announcement that he will leave Manchester United in the summer.
The Serbian posted a message to supporters via his official Instagram account last Friday that declared his intention to depart at the end of this season.
“After a great deal of thought, I have decided that this season will be my last with Manchester United,” wrote Matic. “I have informed the board, the manager and the players of my decision.
“It has been a huge honour and a privilege to play for this great club. A big thank you to the fans for their unwavering support. I will now give everything until the end of the season to help my team-mates finish as strongly as possible.”
“After a great deal of thought, I have decided that this season will be my last with Manchester United,” wrote Matic. “I have informed the board, the manager and the players of my decision.
“It has been a huge honour and a privilege to play for this great club. A big thank you to the fans for their unwavering support. I will now give everything until the end of the season to help my team-mates finish as strongly as possible.”
Part two: Ralf's press conference v Liverpool Video
Part two: Ralf's press conference v Liverpool
The second half of Rangnick's press conference is a fascinating watch: delve into the latest news and views here...
Matic appeared as a second-half substitute during the 3-2 win over Norwich City on Saturday and, when leaving the pitch at full-time, our cameras captured him passionately patting the club crest, as fans clapped him off.
During a press conference on Monday to preview our next match, against Liverpool at Anfield, Rangnick spoke positively about Matic’s decision.
Ralf also confirmed there haven’t been similar conversations with other members of the squad.
“No, the only one who told me and with whom I have spoken to recently about this was Nema,” said the interim manager.
“We had also spoken on Friday evening in the hotel before the game. He didn’t do anything wrong. For the next year there was an option in the contract. It was optional for both the club and for the player to decide if he wants to stay here and he decided after, I don’t know, five years of being here, to now go elsewhere.
“No, the only one who told me and with whom I have spoken to recently about this was Nema,” said the interim manager.
“We had also spoken on Friday evening in the hotel before the game. He didn’t do anything wrong. For the next year there was an option in the contract. It was optional for both the club and for the player to decide if he wants to stay here and he decided after, I don’t know, five years of being here, to now go elsewhere.
Part one: Ralf's press conference v Liverpool Video
Part one: Ralf's press conference v Liverpool
Watch part one of Ralf's press conference for the Premier League match at Liverpool, starting with an update on Bruno...
“Knowing Nema, he will be a player until the very, very last day he’s here. He will put all the effort into the best possible performance. In the last [few] games, whenever I let him play, and when he has got game time, he did well.”
There is a strong chance that Matic will feature in Rangnick’s plans for the Liverpool match, given that we are again set to be without his fellow central midfielders Fred and Scott McTominay due to injury.
Find out if Nema is involved when the line-ups are announced at 19:00 BST on Tuesday.
There is a strong chance that Matic will feature in Rangnick’s plans for the Liverpool match, given that we are again set to be without his fellow central midfielders Fred and Scott McTominay due to injury.
Find out if Nema is involved when the line-ups are announced at 19:00 BST on Tuesday.
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