Ralf Rangnick has reiterated that he cannot push any injured players to play for the club.
The German was responding to comments casting doubt on many players’ absences before United’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo was allegedly ruled out with a hip flexor injury sustained on Friday, while Edinson Cavani missed his sixth consecutive game.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Roy Keane questioned the injury to Ronaldo:
We talk about Ronaldo being a machine and very rarely getting injured… it doesn’t add up to me.
Rangnick dismissed those claims following the defeat though:
I have to believe my medical department. My doctor came to see me on Friday morning before training and told me Cristiano Ronaldo cannot train because of some problems with his hip flexor and the same was true on Saturday and that’s why he couldn’t be part of the squad.
It’s just a fact, if players tell the doctor and the medical department that they are injured and cannot play. I have to accept it as a manager.
I cannot force a player to play if he thinks he’s not available because he has an injury.
Despite a strong first-half performance at the Etihad Stadium, the Red Devils fell behind 2-1 at halftime, before a lethargic second-half effort saw United plummet to a 4-1 defeat.
