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    Ralf Rangnick changes Man Utd formation just 24 minutes into Brighton clash after being dominated at Old Trafford

    RALF RANGNICK ditched Manchester United’s 4-3-3 formation after just 24 minutes against Brighton.The interim manager first opted to go with a 4-2-2-2 formation in a bid to gain more control during games after arriving at Old Trafford in December.
    Man Utd started with a 4-3-3 against BrightonCredit: The Sun
    Ralf Rangnick was forced into a tactical change after just 24 minutesCredit: Reuters
    He changed his side to this formationCredit: The Sun
    Following victories over Crystal Palace and Norwich, Rangnick then tweaked that to a 4-3-3 system.
    United beat both Brentford and West Ham playing that way before they were beaten on penalties in the FA Cup by Middlesbrough and then held by Burnley at the weekend.
    Now after a slow start against Brighton at the Theatre of Dreams on Tuesday night, he was spotted telling his stars of another change.
    Just 24 minutes were on the clock when Rangnick was spotted signalling for change to 4-2-3-1.
    His side had offered little going forward as the Seagulls looked the most dangerous throughout the opening exchanges.
    And that tactical switch enabled United to effectively push Bruno Fernandes further forward alongside Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga.
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    But it failed to have an impact before the break as the hosts were booed off by the home crowd at half time.
    Fortunately it did pay off as United ran out 2-0 winners.
    Speaking ahead of the clash as to why he had recently opted for 4-3-3, Rangnick said: “This is something we had to find out.
    “Of course Paul Pogba has now only been available as of two weeks ago and Fred can play in that number eight position too.
    “To start with for me, it was logical to stick with the formation that we were used to and the team has played before.
    “As you know the first game against Crystal Palace and against Norwich we played in a 4-2-2-2 quite like how Southampton is playing now.
    “Once we realised that players like Bruno [Fernandes], Fred and Paul Pogba were better playing to their assets and their strengths, it suits us better when we play them in a No 8 position.”
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo’s mum SNUBS Man Utd vs Brighton to watch beloved Sporting Lisbon take on Man City in Champions League

    CRISTIANO RONALDO’S mum and biggest fan Dolores Aveiro chose NOT to watch her son in action on Tuesday night. Manchester United welcomed Brighton in a crunch Premier League clash, but Dolores was instead spotted in Lisbon watching United’s arch-rivals Manchester City.
    Ronaldo’s mum Dolores was pictured at Sporting Lisbon vs Man CityCredit: Eleven1
    Pep Guardiola and Co travelled to take on the Portuguese outfit in the Champions League, with die-hard Sporting fan Dolores in attendance.
    And she made sure she showed her support for her favourite team by wearing a Sporting Lisbon shirt and scarf.
    It’s no surprise she chose to watch Ronaldo’s boyhood club in action, given Dolores has previously revealed her desire for Ronnie to return there.
    But the game kicked off just 15 minutes before United’s Prem game against Brighton at Old Trafford.
    That meant she was forced to sacrifice watching her beloved son in action.
    Upon Dolores being spotted in the crowd Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said on BT Sport: “[She’s] a massive football fan.
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    “A massive Sporting fan. That’s where Cristiano [Ronaldo] grew up.”
    The night got off to a nightmare start for Dolores and Sporting though after Riyad Mahrez gave City the lead just seven minutes into the game.
    And things got even worse ten minutes later when Bernardo Silva scored a wonder goal on the half volley to make it 2-0.
    Then when Phil Foden made it three just after the half hour mark Dolores may have been left thinking that she went to the wrong game.
    Especially when Ronaldo ended his six-game spell without a goal by netting against Brighton.
    Ex-Benfica man Silva added his second against the arch rivals of his former employers to make it 4-0 to the visitors BEFORE half time.
    It was five before an hour on the clock as well as Raheem Sterling raised Silva’s effort with a thunderbolt of his own, cutting in onto his right and curling into the top corner in trademark fashion.
    Guardiola and Co showed mercy by not fully twisting the knife after the break and were happy enough to pop the ball about from side to side.
    5-0 it finished to the visitors, and a win that sent a statement across Europe.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Man Utd flop Kleberson urges Leicester’s Youri Tielemans to snub Old Trafford transfer and join Prem rival instead

    YOURI TIELEMANS has been warned about leaving Leicester City for Manchester United by Old Trafford flop Kleberson.The Belgian international has been stalling on a contract extension at the King Power and could be set for a transfer move in the summer.
    Youri Tielemans has been warned about leaving Leicester City for Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
    Kleberson offered words of advice to the Belgian internationalCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Arsenal and Liverpool have been joined by United in the chase for Tielemans – but former Red Devils midfielder Kleberson has told the Foxes ace that a switch to the Theatre of Dreams would be ‘a really big risk’.
    The Brazilian told Paddy Power: “Youri Tielemans is not at a big club. Leicester City don’t have the pulling power that some of the other Premier League teams possess.
    “I could see Tielemans going to Chelsea because their style would suit him.
    “When you watch Chelsea play, they are more comfortable with the ball.
    “A move to Manchester United would be a really big risk for him, and Liverpool already have players who can control games and dictate the play.”
    Kleberson only made 30 first-team appearances for United throughout his two-year stint so knows about failing at Old Trafford.
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    Tielemans, who only has 18 months remaining on his contract, scored six goals and provided four assists last term when he was an ever-present in the Premier League.
    Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers discussed Tielemans’ contractual situation on Sunday, saying: “He hasn’t declined. For me his position is exactly the same as what it was.
    “He’s a fantastic player and there’s been no movement whatsoever, he’s a player who has continued to work and is working well.
    “Until the last day he’s here whether that’s at the end of the contract or summer or beyond that, he will always give his best because he’s a top professional and he showed his commitment today.
    “There’s interest trying to be generated by other people.”
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    ‘Why would they go for him?’ – Pochettino’s Man Utd credentials questioned by Merson who names two managers he prefers

    MAURICIO POCHETTINO’S Manchester United managerial credentials have been slammed by Paul Merson.The Arsenal legend says Brendan Rodgers or Graham Potter would do far better.
    Mauricio Pochettino does not deserve to be a prime candidate to take over at Old Trafford, says Sky Sports pundit Paul MersonCredit: AFP
    Brendan Rodgers should be the next Man Utd manager, according to Paul MersonCredit: Rex
    PSG chief Pochettino and Ajax manager Ajax’s Erik ten Hag are reportedly vying to replace interim United boss Ralf Rangnick in the summer.
    But Arsenal icon Merse has ridiculed Poch’s recent CV and believes the Argentine is living off his achievements at Tottenham.
    The former England forward wrote in his Sky Sports column: “I don’t understand why Manchester United would be waiting for Mauricio Pochettino. I don’t get it. 
    “If Pochettino doesn’t win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, why would they be going in for him?
    “You’ve got to remember he failed to win the French league last year, too. That’s virtually impossible to do. 
    “Everybody keeps saying they need to go out and get Pochettino but I don’t understand why.”
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    United’s superstars, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and injury-hit Paul Pogba, have been criticised for failing to gel.
    And Poch’s PSG have faced similar flak this season despite dominating Ligue 1 as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe fail to fully convince.
    In contrast, Leicester chief Rodgers and Brighton boss Potter have developed clear and cohesive tactics.
    And Merson reckons ex-Liverpool manager Rodgers would be the runaway tip for Old Trafford if the Foxes hadn’t faltered in recent weeks,
    He is also a fan of the way former Swansea chief Potter has turned Brighton into a stylish top-ten team.
    Merson argued: “Football is all about timing. 
    “If Leicester were second in the Premier League right now and still in the cups, Brendan Rodgers would be the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next manager of Man Utd. 
    He failed to win the French league last year, too. That’s virtually impossible to doPaul Merson on Pochettino
    “If I was in charge at United, I’d be going for Rodgers or Graham Potter now. People are still caught up on the Pochettino of seven years ago. 
    “He took Tottenham as far as he could, and then you’ve got someone like Rodgers, who has done a far better job than what Pochettino did.”
    Pochettino’s standing soared in 2019 when he guided Spurs to the Champions League final and a fourth-place finish in the Prem.
    But his five-year reign ended with the sack in November that year after they slumped to 14th spot.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Rio Ferdinand reveals Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson would ‘go nuts’ over dressing room leaks after Gary Neville rant

    SIR ALEX FERGUSON would ‘go nuts’ over any dressing room leaks at Manchester United, according to Rio Ferdinand.Former United defender Gary Neville this week claimed he knows who is behind the ‘disgusting’ dressing room leaks that are undermining the club.
    Rio Ferdinand pulled no punches when he explained how Sir Alex Ferguson would react to dressing room leaksCredit: PA
    Sir Alex Ferguson was well-known for running a tight ship at Old TraffordCredit: PA
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November with the club languishing in seventh place in the Premier League.
    Ralf Rangnick has been appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season, but rumours of player fall-outs and a dressing room split continue to swirl.
    Now Ferdinand, who made 312 appearances for United between 2002 and 2014, says Fergie would fume if it happened under his watch.
    Speaking on his YouTube channel Five, the 43-year-old said: “The odd time a team would come out, and you could never say who it was.
    “It would just be like ‘someone’s told their agent’ and then the agent’s told someone in the media just to soften that relationship they’ve got with them to keep them sweet
    “And then the manager used to go nuts. ‘How’s this getting out on a Monday morning? If I find out who this is, watch’.
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    “I just feel that’s down to the players to come together, and that’s down to the players to hold that meeting and say, ‘listen, this can’t keep happening because we’re going to try and find out who this is, whose agent this is’.
    “And if it comes back it’s someone’s agent then the finger will be pointed directly at you in this changing room, so just keep some stuff private.”
    Neville is furious with the fact details from the squad are being revealed to the press – and suggested he knows which players and representatives are responsible.
    The reality is that we do not like it, but we know who it is.Gary NevilleOn who is leaking Man Utd dressing room secrets
    Speaking on his Sky podcast, the former right-back said: “I remember when I joined Sky and we had the Champions League in the early years, and I went over to Napoli to do a game involving Chelsea.
    “It was when Andre Villas-Boas was their manager and he left out Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole – four or five prominent players.
    “That is what managers tend to do in their final days at a club, as they see it as a free hit.
    “I remember sitting there at lunchtime with our team and they were getting messages of team news being leaked and the manager being slagged off, and I sat there thinking ‘does this actually happen’?
    “Players agents and PR teams were briefing the media on a matchday about what was going on inside a club, and it was the first time I had seen it and known for it to happen – it really unnerved me.
    “That is happening at Manchester United now – they are at it, the PR teams, the agents and the marketing teams, as a self-preservation for their own player.
    “But what they do not realise is that unfortunately, when they go to the media then those media people go to us – so we know who is briefing.
    “The reality is that we do not like it, but we know who it is.
    “We are not going to throw people under a bus here because we have that journalistic respect – but they are it in the same way that Chelsea were all those years ago.
    “They need to stop it and work as hard as they can.”
    Gary Neville is fuming that he knows who is behind Man Utd’s dressing room leaksCredit: PA
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Three new formations Man Utd could deploy to get best out of Cristiano Ronaldo and end his worst goal drought in decade

    CRISTIANO Ronaldo is experiencing his worst goal drought in a decade.And the ageing Manchester United talisman looks a shadow of his former self.
    Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score for six games in a rowCredit: EPA
    The temper tantrums and outbursts aimed at team-mates are starting to tarnish his glittering legacy at the Theatre of Dreams.
    But the 37-year-old is also struggling under the management of interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
    Ronaldo is said to be among a number of ‘heavyweight’ players who think the German is out of his depth at Old Trafford.
    Their relationship hasn’t been helped by Rangnick’s readiness to haul the striker off or even start him on the bench.
    In truth, CR7 has looked sluggish up front in recent weeks and has failed to hit the net in six games in a row.
    Qualifying for next season’s Champions League is an absolute must for Rangnick this term.
    But with the race for fourth in the Premier League looking tighter than ever, maybe it’s time for drastic action to help Ronaldo find his scoring boots once again.
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    LAST TIME OUT
    When he hasn’t been starting among the subs, Ronaldo has most recently been deployed as a lone striker in Rangnick’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
    Against Southampton he was flanked by the England duo of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashord – with Bruno Fernandes in support.
    But the Portugal star looked off the pace and short of fire power on the few occasions he did get himself into decent positions.
    And the fact he hardly bothers to pressure opponents means United are regularly on the back foot when out of possession.

    A sluggish Ronaldo looked isolated against Southampton
    MORE SUPPORT FROM MIDFIELD
    Assuming Rangnick opts to keep Ronaldo in the starting XI for tonight’s visit of Brighton, one solution could be to send in midfield reinforcements.
    Fernandes could be joined by Paul Pogba in a more advanced role to form an attacking triangle with the striker.
    While Fernandes’ relationship with his international team-mate has appeared strained at times, Pogba loves playing with him.
    This line-up asks an awful lot of Scott McTominay in the holding role, while Rashford and Sancho might not think much of dropping back into midfield.
    But throwing creative midfielders forward could help to stop Ronny looking so isolated up top.

    Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba could form a three with RonaldoCredit: Getty
    FINDING HIM A STRIKE PARTNER
    Axed boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dabbled with a 3-5-2 during his ill-fated spell in the United hotseat.
    And it worked on occasion – Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani both netted up front together in that formation against Tottenham.
    But Cavani is still out with a hip problem and Rashford hardly seems to be connecting with his veteran team-mate.
    Perhaps Rangnick could experiment and throw Fernandes further forward as an out-and-out No10.
    His touch around the box could slip Ronaldo in closer to goal so he isn’t left struggling to keep up with speedy wingers.

    United’s Portugal duo could be given a chance up front togetherCredit: EPA
    DROPPING BACK INTO A DEEPER ROLE
    It would take the bravest of managers to suggest to Ronaldo his time as a goal poacher is over.
    But Rangnick has shown he’s ready to tackle issues head on by benching the legend in recent games.
    Could the elderly striker find a new lease of life dropping back as a playmaker?
    With the speedy Rashford leading the line, Ronaldo could put his years of experience to use in pulling the strings behind – although his ego might not take it.
    He hasn’t scored in ages and often moans at team-mates for failing to play him in – maybe it’s time for him to lay on some assists for the youngsters.

    Perhaps it’s time for Ronaldo to drop back and help othersCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo could QUIT Man Utd over shock slump with Poch’s PSG and Jose’s Roma among giants set for transfer war

    CRISTIANO RONALDO’S Manchester United future remains uncertain – with a trio of top European clubs circling if he quits Old Trafford.Paris St Germain, Bayern Munich and Roma, who are led by the star’s former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, have expressed an interest in the striker.
    Ronaldo may quit United in the summer if they fail to make the Champions LeagueCredit: EPA
    SunSport has told how Ronaldo, 37, had hoped to end his career at United after rejoining the club earlier this season.
    But his agent Jorge Mendes held talks with new Old Trafford supremo Richard Arnold over concerns about his team’s poor form.
    They were knocked out of the FA Cup by Middlesbrough and are in a real fight for fourth place in the Premier League after disappointing draws with Burnley and Southampton.
    The ex-Real Madrid man is also struggling and will be looking to end his longest goal drought in more than a decade when United host Brighton this evening.
    Ronaldo is understood to only wish to stay if United qualify for next season’s Champions League.
    He also has concerns over the attitude of some of his team-mates amid their recent struggles.
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    A source said: “Ronaldo is really torn about his future. He would love nothing more than to win trophies at United, but at the moment that seems like it’s going to be a struggle.
    “He doesn’t want to spend the last couple of years of his stellar career in mid-table.
    “Some big clubs are monitoring the situation and have put the feelers out already.”
    A move to PSG could be the most likely option if Kylian Mbappe heads to Real Madrid.
    It would also see him link up with former Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, something fans have dreamt of for years.
    Bayern still dominate German football while Mourinho would be keen to add Ronaldo to his squad.
    That is despite the pair enduring a fractious relationship at Madrid.
    Ronaldo could reunite with his former Real Madrid boss Jose MourinhoCredit: AFP – Getty More

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    Man Utd ‘enter transfer race for in-demand Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku but face competition from City and Arsenal’

    MANCHESTER UNITED have reportedly joined the race for exciting RB Leipzig midfielder Christopher Nkunku.The 24-year-old Frenchman has scored 19 goals this season for the German side, and has attracted a lot of interest across Europe.
    Christopher Nkunku has reportedly been added to Man Utd’s transfer wishlistCredit: Getty
    Manchester City and Arsenal are both thought to be monitoring the Bundesliga star.
    And now, according to ESPN, United have thrown their hat into the ring ‘at the request of Ralf Rangnick’.
    The German gaffer is only contracted until the end of the season in the dugout, from where he will move into an advisory position.
    But he is seemingly already having his say on future transfer policy.
    Paul Pogba is out of contract this summer, and there is no indication he is ready to agree a new one.
    Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic are in the twilight of their careers, while questions remain over whether Scott McTominay and Fred are the long-term answers in the middle of the park.
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    Bruno Fernandes has struggled under the new regime, while Jadon Sancho is only just starting to find his feet at Old Trafford.
    But as well as City and Arsenal, the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are all monitoring Nkunku.
    As well as 19 goals, he has also bagged 13 assists in 31 games in all competitions for Leipzig this season.
    Man Utd interim boss Ralf Rangnick wants Nkunku to come to Old TraffordCredit: AP
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