Staff Reporter.
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has spoken out following his side’s FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough on Friday night.
United went into the game hoping to make the fifth round of the competition. Yet they ended up crashing out instead, with Boro winning a tense penalty shootout.
The Red Devils took the lead against Middlesbrough through Jadon Sancho.
The England international opened the scoring with a pinpoint finish just moments after Cristiano Ronaldo had fluffed a penalty, sending his effort wide of the goal.
United were on top but, after the interval, the situation changed.
Middlesbrough started to defend better and managed to equalise through Matt Crooks, whose goal stood despite Boro appearing to handle the ball in the build-up.
With neither side able to score, the match then went to penalties after a dull extra-time period.
And Anthony Elanga missed the decisive spot-kick to send the visitors through, sparking wild celebrations in the away end in the process.
“Incredibly disappointed, we should have won and killed off the game in the first half,” Rangnick said after the match. “Crossbar, post, missed penalty and numerous chances. It should have been 2-0 or 3-0.
“We conceded a goal which I don’t understand why it stood. He controlled it with his hand. In the moment when they scored, it was clear that VAR would not allow this goal to stand. We were not well positioned in that moment, too open and allowed them the counter, we should have won the game.”
Rangnick said of the decisive miss: “Anthony Elanga, anyone can imagine how he is, he is shattered and absolutely disappointed.”
“The FA Cup is alive and kicking, especially in Middlesbrough,” said Boro manager Chris Wilder, whose Sheffield United team won at Old Trafford in the Premier League last season. “I told the players it was all about making memories.”