”Everyone is very shaken up. This is very different to the normal things they have to deal with."
That was the reaction from a club source to sour events that have unfolded during the last week. The mood was one of jubilance heading into the two week winter break, off the back of a last-gasp Marcus Rashford own goal to overcome West Ham United. That has now changed.
On Sunday morning, disturbing audio and images were released by Harriet Robson, who had been in a relationship with Mason Greenwood. It was soon revealed by Greater Manchester Police that the 20 year-old had been arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
With Greenwood in police custody and an investigation launched, Manchester United announced, in a statement, that the player would not return to training or play any matches for the club until further notice.
Greenwood has since been released on bail after extensions to his time in custody, with further arrests made on the grounds of sexual assault and threats to kill.
"It’s an ongoing process," Ralf Rangnick said. "I didn’t speak that much with the players about what happened. Obviously, we had internal discussions, but I’m pretty sure everyone will understand those internal discussions should stay internal."
It is tough to place any focus on footballing action itself after the events that have unfolded, but United are back in action on Friday night against Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fourth round. A chance to shift the onus back to football.
United edged their way through the third round against Aston Villa towards the start of January, with Scott McTominay's early header the difference amidst an underwhelming showing. Friday's visitors to Old Trafford, Middlesbrough, also won by a slender margin in the third round, with a 95th minute own goal away to League Two Mansfield putting halt to a fightback and sealing them a 3-2 victory.
The North Yorkshire side are back on track after a rocky start to the season that saw Neil Warnock depart the club by mutual consent after 16 months in charge. With former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder now at the helm, Middlesbrough are on the verge of the playoff places - winning a game in hand that would see them rise above West Bromwich Albion into sixth-place.
Since Wilder took over, Middlesbrough have only lost twice in 12 matches, most recently against title challengers Blackburn Rovers two weeks ago. They have won eight matches under the new manager, certainly a marker of an upward spiral.
The current campaign is Middlesbrough's fifth out of the Premier League, with their last meeting with United a 3-1 defeat at the Riverside Stadium. Last time the north-eastern outfit ventured to Old Trafford, they fell foul to an astounding late French frenzy as quick-fire goals from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba on New Years' Eve saw a 1-0 deficit turned around for the Red Devils.
Wide man Isaiah Jones and Slovenian striker Andraz Sporar have been tipped as a pair to watch by a Middlesbrough source, whilst United academy graduate Paddy McNair is an integral part of Wilder's side - usually in a back three. Jones won the Championship player of the month award in December, leading the club's assist tally. Meanwhile, Sporar is Middlesbrough's top scorer with seven goals.
"I don't want my players going to Old Trafford to enjoy the visit," Wilder insisted. "If they want a shirt, do it in the changing rooms after. We don't want to look at them all fuzzy-eyed - they are up against a competitor. I want them to play well, to give a good account of themselves and make it a competitive, dangerous night for Manchester United."
United have followed a rough patch with some more auspicious showings of late, beating both Brentford and West Ham in more convincing fashion heading into the two week break. No matter, there are still issues to eradicate if United are to go deep into the FA Cup, make the top four, and even have a shot at winning the Champions League.
United return from the break with a slimmer squad to the one that entered the January transfer window, with no incomings and the loss of three players on loan. "The group was slightly too big," Rangnick said. "We had too many players not seeing the chance to get regular playing time. Donny, Anthony, and Amad deserve regular game time. Amad has already played and scored in his first game and I'm pretty sure Donny and Anthony will do well at Sevilla and Everton and I hope they come back.”
Of course, Greenwood is unavailable due to the ongoing police issue. United have been left slim in attacking sense, with Jesse Lingard not permitted to a deadline day loan move with only Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga otherwise remaining as players accustomed to wide roles.
After the transfer fiasco, Lingard will not feature against Middlesbrough. Rangnick confirmed, "He has asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off, just to clear up his mind."
Lingard later tweeted, "The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons."
"Three weeks ago, Jesse didn't want to leave, then he changed his mind," Rangnick stated. "I had a chat with him 10 days ago and I could fully understand why he wanted to leave, to get game-time for his future and the World Cup. I said to him at the time if he finds a club he would like to play for and the club find a solution with our club I would let him go and allow him to leave."
"With all the developments in the last couple of days, things changed a little bit. On the other hand, we also had no agreement with any other club and we had to take a final decision with the board, and we decided to rather keep Jesse until the end of the season. The board informed me they would rather he stay, and this was a decision I could fully understand and accept."
Lingard is to be joined on the sidelines by Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Edinson Cavani.
"Victor Lindelof has been ill the whole week and is not training," Rangnick said. "Eric Bailly has some problems - a swollen ankle - and will therefore not be a part of the squad."
"Edi Cavani will only return at the weekend. He contacted me a week ago and asked me if he could have two more days at home. I allowed him because I knew that he couldn't be in the starting XI anyway, with jet-lag and only coming back today or last night.“
In the meantime, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho are all back in contention, whilst Paul Pogba "will be part of the group" and "might even be in the starting XI" according to his manager.
"I think he’s definitely ready for tomorrow and, since Fred only came back yesterday with jet-lag, as he played for Brazil," Rangnick admitted. "For me, it is quite logical to let Paul play, to see how he is doing and what kind of level he can play."
"What I’ve seen in training is promising and now it’s up to him to show up on the big pitch, in the big competitions we’re still in. Like everybody, I’m very excited by what he can give to the team and which kind of level he can play. What I’ve seen so far, with regard to his physique, his physical presence, the technical assets he has, I think his best position is a central midfield position. I don’t see him that much as a winger. By saying that, I wouldn’t say he cannot at all play that position, but we have quite a few players for the winger position right now. I see his best possible position as central midfield, if it’s a number six or an eight, I have to see. I haven’t seen him play so far. If you ask me right now, probably the number eight position."
"I will be excited myself to see how Paul is doing and, like all the other players, for me, he is now a new player," he stated. "He can show me and the team and the fans and everybody in England how good and at what kind of level he can play. We shall wait and see what he can deliver."
Rangnick has confirmed that Tunisian youngster Hannibal Mejbri is set to be included in United’s matchday squad. "He will, from now on, regularly train with us and be a regular member of the squad," the German said. "He will be part of the squad."
"I haven’t seen that much of him as he was with the national team. I saw him play in the tournament, not the Africa Cup of Nations but the one before. I saw him play in the final and, from what I’ve seen so far, I think he’s a promising talent. He deserves to be part of the group for the rest of the season."
The side that Rangnick deploys from the start is still in question, though indications in the third round lead us to theorise that he will opt for as strong a lineup as possible amongst the available personnel.
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