Whingeing Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes playing a blame game at Manchester United

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There are only a few letters between the winners and the whiners. There may be other common threads, given that the Manchester United chief moaner is one of the most decorated players of all time. Perhaps complaining is a consequence of not meeting standards. It nevertheless gives the impression of a fragmented and underperforming club playing the blame game.

Former United captain Gary Neville called the current squad “wingebags” in Monday’s draw at Newcastle. He notably attacked two of their superstars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. Referee Craig Pawson got fed up with Fernandes’ whining, reserving him for dissent.

Ronaldo doesn’t try to hide his irritation, coming down the tunnel as the loss to Aston Villa and the draw with Everton ends. He has always been expressive and demanding. When he joined United he probably didn’t expect them to be seventh now.

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While Neville and some of United’s other top players feel such visible discontent has plagued their former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Norwegian’s vision of Old Trafford as a constantly magical and joyful place was illusory.

Instead, the whining highlighted United’s issues: the disconnect between senior and junior players, the feeling that neither of them really helps each other, the way an off-suit group seems to fit together. hold each other responsible for their failures.

Acting manager Ralf Rangnick has criticized the body language of his new defendants during their unimpressive victory at Norwich. He felt the biggest problems at Newcastle came from elsewhere, but it was a miserable performance, saved only by Edinson Cavani, the warrior who sets the tone on the pitch.

Elsewhere, however, the feeling is that United have an attitude problem. This was evident in the capitulations to Leicester, Liverpool and Watford. It was not remedied simply by sacking Solskjaer. Most are guilty in some way, although some try to blame others.

Harry Maguire was the captain who set the wrong example, suffering a crisis of confidence as his game fell apart. Ronaldo and Fernandes are the great personalities whose own efforts can be called into question.

Ronaldo has scored 13 goals in 19 games since his return, but has only scored twice in open play in his last 12 league appearances. He was twice very lucky to escape red cards for petulant hacks, against Liverpool and Newcastle. Either way, he may have been protected by his status, by the fact that officials were too timid to fire Ronaldo because he is Ronaldo.

Newcastle 1 Manchester United 1 player ratings

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 6: Had hearts in his mouth as he charged out of the area to sweep the attack just before half an hour. Diving Palmed Rashford shot over the bar early in the second half. Center abandoned and clearance sliced ​​in added time to shake St James’ Park. Reuters

Fernandes, meanwhile, has scored a lone goal in his last 20 appearances against United. Against Norwich and Newcastle he continued to give the ball away. To some extent, a risk taker always did, but now they are missing the end product. Fernandes was moved as main man and then penalty taker by Ronaldo. Now Rangnick’s tactics got him moving again.

The German’s 4-2-2-2 lineup includes a pair of what he calls the No10s. Not, however, in the way Fernandes has long played the role of central focal point. He is less suited to a larger role, to be defended on the left against overlapping right-backs. Others, including Ronaldo, have not reached their peak under the leadership of the interim manager.

United’s meager four-goal comeback in four games under Rangnick shows they didn’t click as an attacking unit. Ronaldo and Fernandes, who have played 534 of a possible 540 league minutes, are two of those responsible.

Hence more frustration and more obvious expressions of it, underlining the impression that they are less a team than a collection of individuals. Today, they face a group whose attitude is at the origin of their relative success in recent years. Burnley lacks United resources, talent or stardust, but they come with a promise of teamwork and unity.

For Rangnick, this completes a trilogy of clashes with the camps in the relegation zone. His team hardly impressed against Norwich and Newcastle. They were more Manchester Disunis than Manchester United.

Updated: December 29, 2021, 13:34

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