Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly not convinced by Ralf Rangnick’s methods after showing visible signs of frustrations in Manchester United ’s latest fixture.
Rangnick has endured a turbulent start to life in the Old Trafford dugout, having to battle through a Covid-19 outbreak which saw the club’s Carrington training ground closed for more than a week.
That prohibited the German tactician from being able to drill his new charges in the high-pressing style he wants to play with.
That lay-off was clearly visible as United laboured to a 1-1 draw vs lowly Newcastle and were indebted to keeper David de Gea for earning a point.
Ronaldo was utilised as one of two central strikers against the Magpies, starting alongside Mason Greenwood, before he was replaced by Edinson Cavani at half time.
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The 36-year-old was spotted throwing his arms up on several occasions and generally looked perturbed with his teammates after another limp display.
And according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Ronaldo is not happy in his second spell, with major concerns over the team’s performance in the Premier League.
The report adds that the Portuguese is also unimpressed with Rangnick’s methods on the training ground, despite him only being in the job for a month.
In the aftermath of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s sacking, the Athletic reported that Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes made contact with club bosses, where he was given assurances about the club’s direction moving forward.
Mendes’ client had, it's claimed, lost faith in Solskjaer’s ability to bring trophies to the club and had been growing disillusioned with their doomed title bid.
Following the draw on Tyneside, United are a staggering 19 points behind near neighbours and league leaders Manchester City, although they do have two games in hand.
In fact, they now face a major battle to secure a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.
Rangnick was hired as an interim boss until the end of the season, giving Old Trafford chiefs ample time to find a long-term successor.
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Ronaldo meanwhile signed a two-year deal back at United, with the option to extend that for a further 12 months.
He has found the net 13 times so far this season, but has come in for criticism for his perceived negative body language, with Gary Neville the latest to take aim.
"We talk about body language. We talked about it early in the season when Ronaldo ran off at the end of the Everton game,” Neville told Sky Sports. “He's run off again tonight. He ran off at Watford when everyone knew the manager was going to get the sack. And at Norwich.
"There's [Bruno] Fernandes whinging, too. They're the two senior players. It's devastating for younger players when the two best players are looking at every other player like they're not good enough.”
