Ralf: 'Amazing' McTominay has leadership skills

The German's tip came after the 25-year-old led the Reds' progression into the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a match-winning header against Aston Villa.

 

McTominay nodded home Fred's cross in the eighth-minute of our close third-round tie with the Midlanders, and has clearly already made a big impression on Rangnick during the few weeks the pair have worked together.

 

So much so that the club's interim manager believes he has obvious leadership qualities that mark him out as a future contender for the armband, even though more senior players are currently ahead of him in the queue. Harry Maguire is, of course, club captain while Bruno Fernandes led the side out on Monday before passing duties on to David De Gea. Cristiano Ronaldo skippered the side against Wolves.

“He is an Academy boy, [and] his energy is amazing,” said Rangnick, after a typically industrious display from the Scotland international.

 

“He's now also started scoring goals, and also with some leadership skills.

 

“I wouldn't be surprised if, in a couple of years, he would be the captain of this team.”

McTominay has now been a trusted lieutenant of three consecutive United managers, after first gaining the trust of Jose Mourinho in 2017, prior to his senior debut against Arsenal at the age of 20.

 

The Academy graduate went on to make 115 appearances under Mourinho's successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and has been a clear first-choice pick for Rangnick ever since his interim reign began.

 

McTominay has even captained United before. Coincidentally, he wore the armband for the very first time at this stage of the FA Cup last season, in a game against Watford that also finished 1-0, in which a Scott header also proved the decisive moment.

His good form has continued this season, amid a difficult few months for the club.

 

Scott opened the scoring in our 3-1 win over Burnley in late December, and is now up and running in 2022, after a match-winning, Man-of-the-Match performance against Villa.