Rangnick rates Wolves after his first United defeat
Ralf Rangnick is demanding improvement from Manchester United as he acknowledged deserved victor Wolverhampton Wanderers was the best team his side has faced.
United was dominated for large periods by Bruno Lage's visitors on Tuesday (AEDT), before 35-year-old Joao Moutinho became the oldest visiting player to score a winning Premier League goal at Old Trafford to condemn Ralf Rangnick to the first loss of his reign.
Wolves' first away league win against United since February 1980, which also ended a 10-game winless run in the stadium, leaves them just three points behind the seventh-placed Red Devils.
United has failed to score in four different top-flight home games this season, already more than it did in the whole of 2020-2021 (three), and Rangnick was disappointed with his team's quality up top as he praised Lage's side.
"We didn't play well at all individually or collectively. In the first half, we had big problems keeping them away from our goal," Rangnick said.
"The goal we conceded, we had enough players in the box. The cross had been defended by [Phil] Jones but the goal we conceded was like too many this season.
"Moutinho could shoot unmarked with no problems, no pressure. We're very disappointed about the result and parts of our performance.
"We decided to change our formation and we had more control – they didn't have as many chances, but we missed our chances and we have to admit they deserved to win. Wolves were the best team we've played. We have more problems today than in other games."
Rangnick arrived in Manchester with a reputation for his 'gegenpressing' style, but he was left disappointed by United's off-the-ball intensity all over the pitch.
"We didn't press at all," he added. "We tried but we were not able to get into those pressing situations. They had an overload in midfield and they played via their wing-backs.
"We've been only working two and a half or three weeks after needing to close the training centre. We had the results. At times we played well but today we have to admit they're better than us.
"The game showed we still have a lot of work to do. We had too many unforced errors. I don’t want to speak about individual performances of players. It's an issue of the whole team. It doesn't make sense [to talk about individuals].
"We have to see each individual game. So far we had 10 out of 12 points. Today we had our first defeat against a good team. They don't score that many goals but they scored the only goal [and] the question was who will score the first goal."
The defeat leaves United four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, over which it holds a game in hand, with its next league fixture coming against Aston Villa on 16 January (AEDT).
