Ralf Rangnick has explained his priority at Manchester United and listed four ways in which his side can improve “on the ball”.
United got their first clean sheet at Old Trafford since March after they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in Rangnick’s first game in charge on Sunday.
READ MORE: Top 10 best decisions of the Premier League season
It was just a third clean sheet this season for the Red Devils and Rangnick explained how improving the solidity of the defence has to be his priority, but also picked out areas for improvement in possession.
“For me, success can only be achieved with development,” Rangnick said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“Regarding the team, this is the result of development and if we can develop the team in the next six months in a way that I can see them play – and I think quite a few things could already be seen last Sunday – knowing it was only one game, the first game, but it showed how the team could defend if they worked together as a team. And, obviously, there is still space for improvement.
“Not everything has been perfect. We can still improve possession of the ball, we can create more chances, we can be more flexible on the ball, we could play more vertical on the ball.
We spoke about that at the first press conference: if you look at the number of goals we conceded until last Sunday – and I heard today it was the first clean sheet at Old Trafford since April – six months, no clean sheet in your own stadium.
“For me, it was clear where the priority should be and how we should develop the team in the next couple of weeks.”
United are now just three points off fourth place and Rangnick is aware of the importance of ensuring Old Trafford hosts Champions League football next season and is targeting success in the cups.
“I am fully aware to be successful at the end means hopefully playing Champions League next season, being as successful as we can be in the Champions League and FA Cup,” Rangnick added.
“We didn’t get an easy draw, to be honest, with Aston Villa. We play them two times in one week. It’s one of three direct Premier League duels in the FA Cup, so there were a few easier draws possible but, in the end, it’s like another Premier League game and this is exactly how we will approach this game.”
The post Rangnick lists four ways Man Utd can improve ‘on the ball’ appeared first on Football365.