Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick sends message to Edinson Cavani over late withdrawals
15.02.2022 - 07:45
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Ralf Rangnick has no issues with Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani's latest lay-off with a groin injury.
Cavani turned 35 on Valentine's Day and the Brighton game is due to be the 19th United game out of 43 he has missed this season.
The striker had eight weeks off after competing in the Copa America with Uruguay in the summer and requested an additional two days off this month, which meant Cavani was unavailable for the FA Cup fourth round defeat to Middlesbrough.
Cavani's penchant for declaring himself unfit irked United staff last season and he will almost certainly leave the club when his contract expires in June. The former Paris Saint-Germain goalscorer has scored just two goals in 15 club appearances this term.
"It’s always sad if you have players not available, no matter if it’s Edinson or other players, if they are injured, they are injured," Rangnick said. "If a player says he’s not available because he’s injured, we do a scan and we realise there’s an injury, even if it's a minor muscle injury, if the player says he cannot fully sprint it doesn’t make sense to put him into the squad.
"I would have loved to have had him in the squad and maybe bring him onto the pitch in the second-half against Southampton but it wasn’t possible. If it's frustrating or not, it would have been good to have him available.
"But in the end, he is old enough, by the way, it’s Edinson's birthday today. I think he’s old enough to know if his body is ready to play or not."
Rangnick has already said it is 'obvious' United need to sign a younger striker in the summer as Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his 37th birthday on February 5.