Ralf Rangnick sends Marcus Rashford message & claims Arsenal are ‘in the best position’ to finish fourth

Ralf Rangnick has revealed what Marcus Rashford must do if he’s to regain his place in the Manchester United team.

The forward has not started in any of the last four Premier League matches, and Rangnick opted to select Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes up front last Sunday in the Manchester derby loss, rather than the more conventional option of Rashford.

That led to speculation earlier this week that Rashford could leave his boyhood club in the summer due to a lack of game time. In fact, United’s No.10 hasn’t completed a 90-game game in 2022.

He did, however, score the last time the Red Devils took on Tottenham Hotspur, a game United won 3-0 in the capital. That is one of just five goals Rashford has scored this season, and Rangnick was asked ahead of the return fixture with Spurs on Saturday, what Rashford must do to earn regular football.

"To play on the same level that he trains,” the German responded. “This is all. We spoke about that a week ago, two weeks ago, in a press conference.

"Marcus is training well, he’s got abundant talent, he’s got almost everything you need for a modern striker. For him, it’s only about transforming the performance of the training sessions into the regular games."

Top-four contest

For United, this weekend’s clash with Spurs really is a huge occasion. Antonio Conte’s men could move above the Red Devils in the table with a win, and have two games in hand on United.

But they’re not the only North-London club concerning Rangnick. So too, are fourth-place Arsenal, who currently lead United by a point in the standings, and have played three games fewer.

It’s for that reason, Rangnick grudgingly admitted the Gunners are best placed to secure the final Champions League spot this season.

"Yeah, but not only us, the same is true with two or three other clubs,” said the interim manager. “Right now they [Arsenal] seem to be in the best possible position but [there are] still 10 games to play.

"We are fully aware that we have to look after ourselves and make sure we do not drop points anymore."