Below are the three ways by which Rangnick can help United finish the Premier League season in the Champions League places.
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Manchester United’s current season has been nothing short of forgettable, both domestically and in Europe. The Red Devils are out of all the cup competitions, meaning they will end another season without a title. This will be their fifth year without winning a trophy – the last of which was the 2017 Europa League triumph. With nine matches to go in the Premier League for United, the gap between them and the top four keeps getting bigger. Currently, United are on 50 points from 29 games and are four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand, and one point behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. The final couple of months will decide whether Manchester United can still salvage something out of a hugely disappointing season.
However, interim manager Ralf Rangnick still has a chance to lead Manchester United to a top four finish and qualify for the Champions League next season. Here are the three ways by which Rangnick can help United finish the Premier League season in the Champions League places.
Manchester United have conceded an alarming 40 goals in the Premier League this season, which is the worst among the current top eight teams in the division. In fact bottom half teams such as Crystal Palace (38) and Brighton (36) have conceded fewer goals than the Old Trafford outfit.
United’s inability to hold on to leads in the recent months has cost them crucial points in the race to finish in the top four. If they are to go on a winning streak in the final weeks of the campaign, then the backline needs to play as a unit and stop leaking in goals.
READ MORE – We can almost not drop anymore points, says Ralf Rangnick on top four race
It finishes goalless at Old Trafford.#MUFC | #MUNWAT
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 26, 2022
Manchester United’s frontline led by Cristiano Ronaldo have scored 48 goals in 29 matches in the league this season, which is not exactly a bad ratio. But taking into account the number of goals the team is conceding on a regular basis, the goal scoring has to improve to make up for their defensive flaws.
Right now, United’s goal difference is only eight, which is the least among the top seven sides in the division. In recent weeks, Manchester United dropped a lot of points in disappointing draws against Burnley, Southampton and Watford despite creating plenty of goal scoring opportunities. Their inability to kill the games could prove detrimental in their quest for a top-four place.
With only nine games remaining in the season, Manchester United can not only rely on their own results to seal a Champions League spot but will also need the teams above them to slip up. Having said that, United should be ready to pounce on those opportunities to sneak their way into the Champions League places.
The Red Devils currently have 50 points. They should atleast aim for 20 or more points from a possible 27. It will not be easy considering that United still have Liverpool (away), Chelsea (home) and Arsenal (away) left to play. But if they can manage six or seven wins and get a draw or two, they might still make the top four battle interesting. Most importantly, Manchester United have to beat Arsenal at Emirates on 23rd April to have a chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
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