Ralf Rangnick has discussed Jesse Lingard’s frustration after the midfielder’s brother criticised Manchester United on social media this week.
Lingard is out of contract at the end of the season and set to leave the club on a free transfer, having started just two Premier League fixtures during the current campaign.
The 29-year-old remained an unused substitute during the club’s final home game of the season against Brentford on Monday evening, a decision which saw the star’s brother take to social media to criticise United’s treatment of the academy graduate.
In the post, Lingard’s brother criticised the club’s failure to provide the England international with a send-off, with fellow out-of-contract stars Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata provided final Old Trafford appearances.
Jesse Lingard’s brother Louie Scott on Instagram last night đŸ˜¬ pic.twitter.com/XoGTZrDpfK
— utdreport (@utdreport) May 3, 2022
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brighton, Rangnick opened up on his decision and Lingard’s frustrations at being marginalised this season.
“To start with, in the last couple of weeks under my tenure he has played far more games than he used to. Number two, on game day against Chelsea he asked me to release him from the game and training the following day for personal family reasons. And this was the reason with only three subs I had to take a decision between Edinson Cavani and Jesse Lingard, or the young Alejandro Garnacho, who I would have loved to have brought on and given a chance to play.
“I took the decision to bring on Edinson. Had I not brought on someone might have asked if it’s classless not to bring on Cavani or Alejandro Garnacho. After two subs, you have to take a decision and this will not be to the liking of everybody and this is part of the game.”
Rangnick spoke further on the complications of social media in modern football, but admits he is uninterested with such incidents unless they arrive from the players themselves.
“To be honest, I’m not reading a lot, I’ve not had the time in the last six months to read, I’m not on Instagram, I’m not on Facebook, I’m not engaged in those areas.
“My focus has been to develop the team. In those days with social media there is always somebody posting something and it’s important not to take too much notice of that. Unless it is the player himself, then it might be a different story.”
