🚨 Ralf Rangnick on Manchester United still needing a left-back: “I remember being asked about Manchester United in 2020, before I ever worked there. I said, ‘They could do with a left back. I know they have Luke Shaw, but I’m not sure he is still at the kind of level you need for a club like Manchester United.’ People interpreted that as me saying Luke Shaw was a bad player. I never said that. There is a difference between being a good player and being the standard Manchester United should be trying to reach in every position. When I eventually became the manager, I saw Luke every day. Technically he is good, physically he can be very good, he has experience. I told him: ‘Luke, you can absolutely play for this club. But Manchester United should have another left-back here who makes it very difficult for you to be the first choice every week.’ That was my opinion then. It hasn’t really changed. Look around Europe. If Manchester United tell me their ambition is to compete with the best teams in the Champions League, then I look at the players those teams have in these positions. Look at someone like Nuno Mendes. That is the level you have to look towards. Not because you need Nuno Mendes specifically, but because that should be your reference point. I remember when I spoke about the club needing open-heart surgery. My point wasn’t simply to sign many players. It was to raise the standard of the squad until there were no positions where the club was accepting something because it had become familiar. Six years have passed since that first interview. Manchester United have spent a lot of money, changed managers and replaced players in almost every area of the pitch, and we’re still having the same conversation about left-back. For me, Luke can still have a role. If you have a top level left back and Luke Shaw competing with him, you have very good depth. But if Luke Shaw is still your undisputed first choice and you’re still asking whether Manchester United need to sign a left-back, then I would say the question I raised in 2020 was never really answered.”