Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo has stated his belief that Ralf Rangnick can do a good job at Old Trafford but insisted that the Manchester United interim boss needs more time.
The German tactician was employed by the Red Devils until the end of the season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked following a run of humiliating losses in November.
But Ragnick, 63, admitted he fears he does not have the time or influence to solve the club’s troubles before his job as interim manager ends in May.
Rangnick faces a toxic atmosphere at Old the club with morale low as up to half the squad want to leave the club with some on expiring contracts and the dressing room divided into cliques, leaving United seventh in the Premier League.
But Ronaldo who joined the club in the summer, believes the interim boss can turn the situation around but he needs more time to get his ideas across to the players.
‘Since he arrived five weeks ago he changed many things,’ Ronaldo told Sky Sports.
‘But he needs time to put his ideas across to the players.
‘It takes time but I believe that he is going to do a good job. We know we aren’t playing the best football but we have many games to improve.
‘Since he arrived I think in some points we are better, but he needs time. It’s not that easy to change the mentality of players and the way they play, the culture, the system like that. I believe that he is going to do a good job.’
‘We have to be together. We’re in the same boat. We have to believe that it is possible but like I said we have a long way to go.’
Ronaldo also admitted that it had been a difficult couple of months in the wake of Solskjaer’s dismissal as Michael Carrick took charge as caretaker manager before Rangnick was employed.
‘Not easy to be honest. We changed Ole, then [Michael] Carrick [caretaker manager], then this new coach. It’s difficult when you change so much, it’s always tough,’ said Ronaldo.
‘It’s always sad and tough. Ole used to play with me before and now he was the coach. A fantastic person. When he left everybody was sad, but it’s part of football.
‘When things don’t go the way the club wants, the club has to change. I was disappointed but we have to understand the club. It was difficult but life continues.
‘But I still believe that we are capable of doing a good season. We know it’s going to take time to make the ideas of the new coach on the pitch.
‘But I’m looking forward. We have to work hard, we have to be together as players. We know we are not in the best moment, but I believe with working hard we can achieve important things, even this year.’
The 36-year-old insisted that he was at the club to win and would not settle for fifth or sixth.
When asked whether United could hope to close the gap on their top-four rivals without the correct mentality,
Ronaldo said: ‘Impossible – I think it’s the main point.
‘I don’t accept that our mentality be less than being in the top three in the Premier League.
‘I think to build up good things, sometimes you have to destroy a few things. So why not – new year, new life and I hope that Manchester (United) can be the level that the fans want. They deserve that.
‘We are capable of changing things now. I know the way but I’m not going to mention it here because I don’t think it’s ethical on my part to say that.
‘What I can say is we can do better – all of us. Manchester (United) belongs to important things, so we have to change that.
‘I don’t want to be here to be in sixth place, or seventh place, or fifth place. I’m here to try to win, to compete.
‘I think we compete but we are not yet in our best level. But we have a long way to improve and I believe if we change our mind, we can achieve big things.’
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