Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Ralf Rangnick reveals what went wrong after slamming Man Utd display in undeserved draw at Newcastle

Ralf Rangnick Newcastle v Man Utd

Ralf Rangnick gave a brutally honest verdict on Manchester United’s display at Newcastle following the 1-1 draw at St James’ Park.

Edinson Cavani came off the bench to get United out of jail at Newcastle on a night when they were branded “a bunch of whinge-bags” by former defender Gary Neville.

The Uruguay international’s 71st-minute equaliser at St James’ Park salvaged a 1-1 draw after Allan Saint-Maximin’s early strike had threatened to hand the struggling Magpies just their second Premier League win of the season.

Television pundit Neville delivered a withering half-time verdict on the visitors’ attitude, and had it not been for the woodwork and a stunning late save from David De Gea, they would have headed back across the Pennines empty-handed after their first outing in 16 days.

They were spectacularly wasteful in possession for much of the game and decidedly shaky at the back to leave the Magpies, playing their fourth game in 16 days, in with a genuine chance of victory to the death.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, the Rangnick said: “I was not happy with our performance. We had too many unforced errors and the early goal didn’t make the job easier.

“In the first half we were struggling. In the second half we were better but it’s a question of energy and physicality and we need to get better in those areas.

“We shouldn’t be looking for excuses. We have to meet the demands in terms of speed, tempo, rhythm, transitions. The team had chances to score but so did Newcastle.

“The good thing is we got the point after being 1-0 down but the performance has to get better.

Cavani to the rescue

“Edinson [Cavani] is a top striker who has been out with injury but it was good to have him on board again and to bring him on at half-time.

“We still have steps to go. Today was not a step forward. The team needs to decrease the number of giveaways and unforced errors and those steps of development we need to take.

“We have to take it game by game. We have physical games coming up against Burnley and Wolves. Results are on track but we have to get better than what we showed today.”

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