‘My argument is falling on infertile ground’

Having backed Ralf Rangnick when he was first appointed Manchester United’s interim manager, Simon Jordan now believes he has had very little effect since arriving at Old Trafford.

The Premier League side were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday and also look unlikely to finish in the Premier League’s top four.

And, despite looking for the positives in the United boss earlier in his tenure, Jordan now feels his argument for backing Rangnick is ‘beginning to fall on infertile ground’.

“I kept on making a case for Rangnick,” Jordan told talkSPORT.

“I believed that, whilst he had some adversity to overcome, because the legacy of three years of poor discipline and management behind the scenes was always going to have a carry, United would pick up some slack. 

“I thought that they would beat Atletico and I felt that they would get fourth spot. So, my argument about Rangnick having an effect is beginning to fall on infertile ground. 

“I think getting knocked out of the Champions League in the manner that they did after the second-half performance gives you no cause to believe that Rangnick is having an effect. 

“Twenty games in, I can’t really substantiate my case for Rangnick.” 

On the domestic front, United are one point behind fourth-place Arsenal and could be even further behind in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Former midfielder Paul Scholes was particularly critical of Rangnick’s initial appointment.

“How he was chosen to be manager of this club, I don’t know. Getting a proper coach for this team is a massive thing.

“There is some real talent in this squad.

“The very first thing this club needs to do to get anywhere near winning the league again is getting in a proper coach who works for this team.

“If Diego Simeone was managing them, United would have gone through.”

Both PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax’s Erik ten Hag have been tipped to replace him when he leaves his position in the summer.