Injured Paul Pogba has played United’s last game as Ralf Rangnick bets on a ‘very good choice’ at Ten Hag
Ralf Rangnick has suggested that Paul Pogba played his last game for Manchester United.
The 29-year-old came through Old Trafford’s youth ranks and returned to the club in 2016 for a then-world-record fee after a successful stint at Juventus.
But Pogba’s return hasn’t worked out as both parties would like and the world champion is expected to leave United this summer when his contract expires.
Paul Pogba did not have a successful spell at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA)
There is little sign of him agreeing to a new deal, meaning the 10 minutes he managed before limping away with a calf injury in Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat at Liverpool will likely be his last for the will be club.
Rangnick said: “Paul, as it seems from the scan we did the day before yesterday, is very unlikely to play again until the end of the season.”
Asked if Pogba has played his last game for United, Rangnick said: “The doctor told me it will take at least four weeks for him to recover and the last game is at the end of May.
“I don’t think it’s very likely that he can play again.”
Pogba is one of several players set to leave in a summer of change overseen by newly appointed manager Erik ten Hag.
The Ajax boss is set to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis in the summer after signing a contract until 2025 with an option for a further year.
“We don’t know each other personally, we haven’t met in person yet,” Rangnick said of Ten Hag.
“But from what I’ve seen him both at Bayern Munich as a U23 coach and at Ajax now, I like his football.
“I’m pretty positive with a full pre-season, with the opportunity to build and shape your own staff, also with a new team, which is obvious – we’re going to have a new team.
“With a full pre-season, I’m pretty sure we’ll see a different team and an improvement on the pitch.
Ralf Rangnick expects Manchester United to improve next season (Martin Rickett/PA)
“I knew Erik was one of the candidates that the board spoke to.
“Obviously I told them, at least from what I’ve seen and known from people who have worked with Erik, that I think he would be a good choice.
“I still think he’s a very good choice. And all the other things we haven’t had time to talk about.”
Rangnick’s two-year advisory role is a key issue, but the immediate focus is Saturday’s tough clash at top-four rivals Arsenal.
United cannot afford not to lose further ground after the embarrassment at Anfield, where a number of players were absent through injury and Cristiano Ronaldo was sacked out of sympathy.
Rangnick confirmed the frontman will return to the capital alongside Raphael Varane, where Scott McTominay is capable of being used as an emergency replacement at Liverpool.
Harry Maguire is also available with the Manchester United captain’s spokesman and says he is preparing “as usual for this weekend’s game” after receiving a bomb threat on Thursday.
Rangnick said: “I haven’t seen him because I only found out about this horrible, horrible thing yesterday afternoon. I haven’t been able to speak to him since then.
“But that too is another bad sign for the crazy world we live in.
“Obviously I’m very sorry for Harry for having had this horrible experience but he knows we’ve all got his back – the club, everyone, the players, his team-mates. It’s sad enough that crazy things like this happen.”
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/injured-paul-pogba-has-played-last-game-for-united-as-ralf-rangnick-backs-very-good-choice-in-ten-hag-41577542.html Injured Paul Pogba has played United’s last game as Ralf Rangnick bets on a ‘very good choice’ at Ten Hag