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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

Man Utd's biggest concern this season identified by both Roy Keane and Ralf Rangnick

Ralf Rangnick has recognised he hasn't been able to solve all of Manchester United's problems since taking the reins in December, and former club captain Roy Keane shares his view on the biggest concern facing the Red Devils.

United suffered a surprise FA Cup exit on Friday, squandering countless chances against Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw before losing to the Championship side on penalties after Anthony Elanga's miss.

Amid questions over United's training regimes under Rangnick and predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, more pressing concerns have come to mind, not least around the team's wastefulness in front of goal.

It was something identified by Rangnick after the cup elimination, and Keane came to similar conclusions during his punditry duties on the game.

Is Rangnick right about Man Utd's biggest issue? Have your say in the comments section

Rangnick's side squandered chances before losing on penalties (Getty Images)

"We should and could have easily been up 3-0 after 45 minutes and even in the second half we missed some great opportunities, even after they scored their goal that shouldn't have stood," Rangnick said after the game, making reference to a handball appeal in the build-up to Matt Crooks' equaliser.

"But Bruno [Fernandes]'s chance was almost like a penalty as well, so we have to blame ourselves for giving away and wasting too many opportunities in the game.

"And, in the end, if it's on penalties it's also a question of luck and in the end we lost that game and we are all incredibly disappointed."

United missed an eye-watering seven clear-cut opportunities against Middlesbrough, with Jadon Sancho's goal the only one of 30 shots from the hosts to find the back of the net.

Cristiano Ronaldo sent a penalty wide of the post, while Bruno Fernandes was also wasteful, prompting Keane to echo Rangnick's concerns while on punditry duty with ITV.

"One of [Rangnick's] concerns will be over the last few home games they've only scored one goal and obviously just one tonight," the Irishman said.

"I was talking about Man United finding a way to win the game, but what they did was they found a way to lose the game and that's not a good sign."

Ronaldo's penalty miss was one of a host of squandered chances (AFP via Getty Images)

Rangnick has been in the dugout for six Manchester United home games since taking the reins, but only one of those - a 3-1 victory over Burnley - has seen his team score more than one goal.

While his team has only failed to find the net on one occasion, the lack of clinical finishing has allowed opponents back into the game, and that was even true of the away game at Aston Villa in January when Steven Gerrard's team came back from 2-0 down to rescue a point.

Next up for United is the reverse fixture against Burnley at Turf Moor, where a victory would be enough to keep Rangnick's side in the top four for the time being.

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