Rangnick: Poor team spirit cost Man Utd

MANCHESTER United interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s biggest disappointment during his tenure at Old Trafford was that the club failed to create a team spirit, the German said ahead of their final Premier League game at Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Rangnick’s team are sixth in the league on 58 points, two points above seventh-placed West Ham United, and they need a win at Selhurst Park to be certain of securing a place in next season’s Europa League.

Rangnick, who will lead the team for the last time tomorrow before Erik ten Hag takes over next season, said United lost confidence after being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid in the last 16.

“Until then we had stabilised the team,” Rangnick told reporters yesterday. “Until then were much more stable defensively.

“Since Atletico, we just didn’t find our shape, form again. It has got to do with confidence, team spirit and togetherness.

“This is my biggest disappointment that we didn’t establish that team spirit.”

The German, who will move into a consultancy role next season, said he had been in touch with new manager Ten Hag. British media reported that Ten Hag was expected to attend tomorrow’s game.

“Hopefully we will speak and meet in person at the weekend, or Monday at the latest,” Rangnick said.