Paul Scholes has said Manchester United's dressing room is "a disaster" after Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal.
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| ‘The dressing room is a disaster’ – Manchester United legend Paul Scholes reveals frank Jesse Lingard chat as Scott McTominay admits ‘problems’ with players and staff United's hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four suffered a potentially fatal blow as Nuno Tavares, a Bukayo Saka penalty and Granit Xhaka's 25-yard strike sealed victory with United only able to muster a Cristiano Ronaldo effort in response. Speaking on DAZN, Scholes claimed his former club were in disarray behind the scenes having spoken with United midfielder Jesse Lingard. "It is an absolute mess," Scholes said. "It is a disaster of a dressing room. I had a quick chat with Jesse the other day and I'm sure he won't mind me saying that the dressing room is just a disaster." United interim coach Ralf Rangnick rejected that assertion, although he admitted the players were not particularly close. "I don't know, you have to ask Jesse Lingard if you have this information," he said. "Obviously after games like today or the games at Liverpool or Everton, there is massive disappointment in the locker room for sure. This is normal. "It would be rather a problem if that was different so this is for me normal. I think the whole group, they get on reasonable with each other. I'm not daring to say they get on well with each other but I don't see that there is an issue with regard to the atmosphere in the locker room." Ronaldo scored his 100th Premier League goal but Rangnick revealed the 37-year-old turned down the chance to take the second-half penalty which Fernandes missed. Had United scored, they would have levelled the match at 2-2 after a spell in which they were the better team but Fernandes rolled his effort against the post. "Both are penalty takers," Rangnick said. "Cristiano told me after the game that he didn't feel well enough and that's why Bruno took it. In the end it was about two or three yards a little bit further to the right." Rangnick also wrote off United's top-four aspirations after their tenth League defeat of the season left them six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played a game more. "Look at the table and the teams with Tottenham and Arsenal, I think it is not very realistic to dream and speak about the top four," he added. Arsenal took another huge step towards Champions League qualification with a crucial 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Emirates Stadium. A Nuno Tavares tap in, Bukayo Saka penalty and Granit Xhaka screamer were the difference in a pulsating contest in North London, where Cristiano Ronaldo also left his mark by scoring his 100th Premier League goal. Arsenal started the game in the ascendency and took the lead just three minutes in. Xhaka’s cross evaded two United defenders and fell to Saka at the back post, who saw his shot parried into the path of Tavares to tap home. United almost responded immediately after Ronaldo slipped a through ball into the path of Anthony Elanga, who failed to convert his one-on-one effort. Bruno Fernandes missed a good chance for United before Elanga saw a penalty appeal turned down, as the tide began to swing. Ronaldo then skied a half chance before Diogo Dalot hit the crossbar following some slick United passing on the edge of the box. Just before the half hour mark drama ensued when Eddie Nketiah thought he’d doubled Arsenal’s lead after slotting a loose ball into the net from close range. The offside flag went up against the young forward, with VAR called into action to check the goal. The offside decision stood, but Arsenal were then awarded a penalty after Alex Telles was adjudged to have fouled Saka in the build-up. Saka stepped up and sent David de Gea the wrong way from the spot. United replied almost instantly as two minutes later, Ronaldo met Nemanja Matic’s cross at the back post to steer an effort into the net at the back post. The second half didn’t quite have the same thrill factor as the first, but the football was free-flowing and both teams continued to attack adeptly. Ten minutes into the second period United were awarded a penalty after Tavares handled the ball in the area, but Fernandes’ weak penalty struck the post. United continued to look threatening and just after the hour mark Ronaldo had a goal chalked off. He volleyed in from a tight angle following a flick on from Scott McTominay, but the Portuguese strayed just offside. Moments later Dalot hit the woodwork again, this time after being played in down the right. He tried to beat Aaron Ramsdale at his near post but the keeper made a brilliant fingertip save to tip the ball onto the post. With just under 20 minutes to go, Arsenal delivered the sucker punch. United failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Xhaka who drilled a vicious effort into the bottom corner from 25 yards. The Gunners sat back and preserved their two goal advantage, as they claimed a mammoth three points and stretched their advantage over sixth-placed United to six points. Ralf Rangnick’s side have it all to do if they’re to qualify for next season’s Champions League, whilst Arsenal are back in the driving seat for finishing in the top four. Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been dropped by interim manager Ralf Rangnick for Saturday's Premier League match at Arsenal. Maguire had started 27 of United first 33 EPL games this season, but his place in the team was recently called into question amid a run of bad form. But Eric Bailly was not the man to replace Maguire in Rangnick's team to face Arsenal. Both defenders were named among the substitutes with Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof starting at center-back. Earlier in the week, Bailly controversially responded to a comment on United's Instagram account from a fan who wrote: "Start Eric Bailly x Varane". After being overlooked for Tuesday's trip to Anfield, where United lost 4-0 to Liverpool, Bailly replied: "Please". Varane had missed the Liverpool game with an injury and Rangnick decided to switch from a 4-3-3 formation to a 5-3-2 system to incorporate more defenders. But even then, Bailly had to settle for a place on the bench, as Phil Jones and Lindelof were selected to play alongside Maguire. Man United Starting XI Vs Arsenal De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles; McTominay, Matic, Fernandes; Elanga, Sancho, Ronaldo. Rangnick was asked about Bailly's Instagram comment ahead of the Arsenal game. He was quoted by the Manchester Evening News as saying: "I'm not on Instagram. Listen, I'm not talking about my players in the press conference not knowing what has happened, it doesn't make sense. I can only tell you, never in my life will I be part of Instagram. "If it's true what you told me that should not happen in a football club no matter in which league." Maguire has endured a difficult week. In addition to captaining United to a humiliating defeat at Liverpool on Tuesday, the England center-back received a threatening email which claimed that his home would be targeted with explosives. Rangnick will continue to take charge of United's games until the end of the season, but Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as the club's new boss starting this summer. |
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