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Manchester United interim manager, Ralf Rangnick, has revealed his plans to rotate the Red Devils’ squad in the coming week as they play a couple of key matches.
United’s top four position in the Premier League and Champions League hopes all hinge on their performances next week. And they need to defeat Leeds United on Sunday February 20, in an away game to keep their Premier League top four spot.
Rangnick’s men will also take on Atletico Madrid midweek in the Spanish Capital, in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
Manchester United will then face Watford again in the Premier League.
The congestion of games could put a strain on the Squad.
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Rangnick believes there is a possibility of resting players for the games on Wednesday and Saturday, but not for the Leeds game which takes place tomorrow [Sunday].
“Possibly yes,” Rangnick said during his post match Press Conference as published on Manutd.com when asked about possible changes in the Manchester United Squad.
“Maybe for Wednesday or Saturday but not so much physically for Sunday’s game , because the last game was on Tuesday,so five days between Tuesday and Sunday, I don’t think that it will be necessary to rest some players for the Leeds game.
“What we will do, we will try to play the best possible team to win the game at Leeds, and then we do the same for the game against Atletico on Wednesday.”
Rangnick hints at the possibility of Sweden international, Victor Lindelof, retaining his starting role after impressing in United’s 2-0 win at home against Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday – the game in which the defender replace an indisposed Raphael Varane in the match day squad.
“He’s a top professional and he did well before he was ill and before he had the incident with his house,” Ralf said of Lindelof.
“For me, from now on, he will play and he is also a candidate to play so we have enough players in the centre of defence who can play with a high amount of experience.
“In the end, it’s the players themselves, who decide who is going to play on the next game [with their performances in training and matches].”
The United’s interim Manager also speaks about his midfield which has already been bolstered with the return of Paul Pogba. He adds that Fred who overcame a Covid-19 setback and Jesse Lingard are available.
“To start with, it is good and important to have Paul back again and available, Rangnick remarked.
“But obviously we have a high level of competition still, we have Fred, so we have enough players, we have Jesse Lingard in good shape in training, so we still have a high level of competition in each area of the field, of the pitch – be it the backline, the midfield or up front.
“So right now, it is not easy to decide and choose the right players, but it is better this way, than having only 15 or 16 outfield players available.”
Photo credit: @ManUtd
