Both Manchester United and Tottenham ended their last games in a 5-goal thriller with Antonio Conte’s side enjoying the better results as they thrashed a struggling Everton side 5-0 while Manchester United endured a frustrating evening playing against the title holders.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Ralf Rangnick of Manchester United. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Conte, who was amongst the frontrunners for the United coaching job will have a point to prove, although his new Tottenham side hasn’t been much consistent while Ralf Ragnick will be looking for a positive response from last weekend’s disgrace at the Ethiad.
It was contrasting fortunes for both United and Spurs against defending Champions, Manchester City, as Conte’s side stood their ground to record a win weeks ago while the Pep Guardiola side thrashed Manchester United last week.
In his prematch press conference, United manager, Ralf Rangnick made known that the both Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani are now fit after missing the loss in the Manchester derby but Luke Shaw and Scot Mctominay will be absent due to covid-19.
When asked if Ronaldo is happy at the club, Rangnick replied; “I haven’t asked him [Ronaldo] if he’s happy at Manchester at this club, he’s fit again, resumed training yesterday [Thursday] and we shall see which formation we will line up with tomorrow.”
“He [Ronaldo] resumed for training yesterday. He trained the whole training session and I expect him to train today. I would’ve thought he was available tomorrow.”
Rangnick on the game against Tottenham: “We are fully aware of importance of tomorrow. We have to win that game, fully aware of that. We’ve had a good week of training.”
Rangnick on team news; “Luke Shaw will miss out. Until yesterday, still testing positive for Covid. Scotty [McTominay] is a question mark, problems with his calf.”
“Right now it’s more likely he [McTominay] will not be available because if we risk him tomorrow he might be out for the game on Tuesday. I tend to be careful if it’s a calf injury.”
Rangnick when asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s trip to Portugal: “It doesn’t make sense to look back on what happened the last six or seven days, what is important is what happens tomorrow. Not to go through all this. He and Edi [Cavani] are both available for tomorrow.”
Rangnick on Marcus Rashford: “[He needs] to play on the same level that he trains. He is training well, abundant talent. For him it is about transforming the performances in training into games.”
