Ralf Rangnick has told Man Utd players to 'cut out' poor body language

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick spoke about stamping out the poor body language that had been on display against Newcastle as his team finished the calendar year with a much-improved performance to beat Burnley at Old Trafford.

Scott McTominay and Cristiano Ronaldo scored either side of an own goal from Ben Mee to give United a 3-0 lead, before Aaron Lennon pulled one back for Burnley, all before half-time.

United had been heavily criticised for their attitude in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle only three days earlier, with former captain Gary Neville calling out the ‘whinging’ players.

"At Newcastle, it was a difficult game for us, we were 1-0 down after seven minutes, and they did well," Rangnick explained, via Sky Sports, after facing Burnley.

"We didn't play well, especially in the first half at Newcastle and the reaction to what's happening on the pitch is the question. Do we fight back? Do we show them we're still a team and we believe in ourselves? Or do we shake heads?

"These kind of things only help the other team and do damage to our own team. For me it was clear to tell them…’Listen, we behave and work as a team and don't show these kind of side effects on the pitch’."

Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport after the game, McTominay added: "We are all learning and adapting. We play for Manchester United, we are dominant and we need to get results.

"Body language is one thing and the manager has come in and said he wants to cut that out, so that is final. We have taken it on board."

Overall, Rangnick was pleased with what he saw against Burnley, labelling it the team’s best attacking performance since he was appointed earlier this month.

"Whenever the ball was in our half there is still space for improvement but offensively that was so far the best performance," the German continued.

"It was about fresh legs, fresh energy, fresh bodies, more physicality against this team. We knew how difficult they would be, how persistent they would play and it was a little bit of a war of attrition, a little bit of a difficult one to play.

"Therefore, it was important to me to have six fresh players on the pitch compared to the game at Newcastle.

"In the end, it paid off. It was the right players in the right positions. For me, it was important to have every player in his best possible position."

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