By Sulaimon Jamiu
Manchester United ace, Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the Manchester derby on Sunday due to injury. Edinson Cavani is also not expected to be included in the matchday squad for the clash at the Etihad Stadium.
As a result, interim United boss Ralf Rangnick is left with only Marcus Rashford as a recognised centre-forward, with attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes as a false nine alternative.
The 37-year-old has 15 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions this season for Manchester United. However, the goals have dried up in 2022. Ronaldo has only scored once in his past ten games, a well-taken long-range goal in a 2-0 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on February 15.
Rangnick’s United have only scored 17 goals in their previous 12 games, despite being fourth in the Premier League. Rangnick stated last month that Ronaldo “should score more goals,” but added that “it is not only an issue with Cristiano, it is an issue with all of the other players.”
Ronaldo has only missed one Premier League game this season, a 2-2 tie against Aston Villa on January 15, owing to a hip problem. Rangnick stated on Friday, when asked about Ronaldo’s troubles in front of goal this season: “A few things that have happened in the last couple of months that couldn’t have been foreseen by anybody.”
The German manager, who will be in charge of his first Manchester derby, also praised England star Marcus Rashford as a forward option.
Despite the fact that Rashford has not scored since a 1-0 win over West Ham United on January 22, Rangnick believes the 24-year-old has “abundant talent.”
“I will put all of my energy into it,” Rangnick added, “to help him follow the same path that other players have taken in the last three months.”
