Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has insisted he has ‘no problems’ with Jesse Lingard, but would have preferred the player not to post his recent frustrations on social media.
United ultimately blocked Lingard from leaving the club during January, despite him not starting a single Premier League game so far this season.
Lingard was then left out of the squad for Friday night’s FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough, with Rangnick publicly suggesting that he had asked for time off due to not being mentally right to play. However, the night before the match, Lingard posted on Twitter insisting it was the club that had advised him to have time off, that he was in the correct headspace to play and remains committed.
Rangnick had already experienced similar issues over Anthony Martial, who posted on social media to give his side of the story when it was suggested by the boss that he had refused to be selected for a game against Aston Villa last month.
“It's always better [to communicate directly]. I never ever read or communicate by those social media accounts,” Rangnick said at his latest press conference.
“I don't exist there and wouldn't have time to do that, so therefore it's always better and I always communicate with the players directly.
“I did that with Anthony and Jesse, but maybe I'm from a different kind of generation. I know in both cases what I said to the players and what happened so, for me, there's no reason to discuss this anymore.”
It was recently rumoured that some United players have been unimpressed over the way Rangnick has handled such situations.
Lingard will return to the squad for Tuesday night’s Premier League clash with Burnley and Rangnick admitted the situation with Mason Greenwood, who will not train or play for the club until further notice, influenced the club’s decision to block a January move.
“With regard to Jesse, I have a very good relationship with him. He knows I would have been willing to let him go at least until the issue with Mason came up and all the other things we have spoken about,” the German coach went on to explain.
“He mentioned some personal issues but again we have to look forward now. There are no problems with myself and Jesse and vice versa.”
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Source : 90min