Ralf Rangnick has reiterated his desire for Cristiano Ronaldo to take on a leadership role at Manchester United.
The Portugal star netted a sublime hattrick to seal a 3-2 win over Tottenham as Ralf Rangnick's men look to end the season on a high.
Ronaldo's future is still up in the air, however, with claims his second spell at Old Trafford could be cut short as a rebuild under the new boss who will arrive in the summer doesn't appeal to him.
Rangnick wants him to stay and just like he led by example on the pitch against Spurs, the interim boss reckons he can take on a more authoritative role off the pitch too.
Rangnick has repeatedly asked Ronaldo to put his influence in the dressing room to good use by mentoring the young core at United.
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He said: "Cristiano is an important player. With his reputation and with the way he can still play, he has an influence on the team, for sure.
"But there are also other players in the team who have to take responsibility, who have to perform, who can be leaders of the team.
"He [Ronaldo] can be a leader with a performance like today [vs Tottenham]. This is what I've been telling him since I arrived, that with a performance like today he can be one of the engines of the team."
Rangnick reckons other players can step up to the plate and become leaders including Harry Maguire which suggests the German doesn't think he is currently fulfilling his obligations as captain.
He added: "We have quite a few other players who can do the same, including Fred, Harry Maguire, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelöf, whoever."
There have been multiple reports of disharmony in the United dressing room with claims Ronaldo was going to take the captain's armband off Maguire due to the skipper's struggles on the field this season.
The Times reported that several members of the Red Devils camp feel Maguire should be dropped due to his performance levels.
These grievances with Maguire have been lingering since October after a hostile team meeting at Carrington after a 4-2 defeat by Leicester.
The report claims players had a go at each other with one individual questioning the club's decision to name Maguire skipper just six months after arriving from the King Power Stadium.
Maguire has also reportedly 'upset' a number of teammates this season, according to the Daily Mail, by calling them out for individual mistakes on the pitch, as well as his critical post-match comments to the media.
United are said to be on the lookout for a 'world class' centre-half in the summer as a result with Maguire's future up in the air.
