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Neil Warnock has singled out Manchester United stars Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw for criticism, saying he was ‘embarrassed’ watching the 1-1 draw against Southampton.

The Red Devils’ hopes of a top-four finish took yet another knock, with a second consecutive Premier League draw against opposition they were expected to beat.

It was another two points dropped for United in a game they were expected to win
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It was another two points dropped for United in a game they were expected to winCredit: Getty
Rangnick is facing even more questions as he struggles to find ways to motivate his squad
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Rangnick is facing even more questions as he struggles to find ways to motivate his squadCredit: Getty

Che Adams cancelled out Jadon Sancho’s first-half opener at Old Trafford, capping off a bad week for interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who also saw his side dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough.

Rangnick is also struggling to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo.

He was criticised for dropping the striker against Burnley, only to see him perform poorly on his return against Southampton.

But in the eyes of former Boro boss Warnock, Ronaldo is just one of a number of superstars causing undue headaches.

“They’ve got too many names and not enough players,” Warnock told talkSPORT.

“They’re all good players when you look at them individually, but it’s going to be a hell of a job to get a team.

“The system, they can’t find a system to include Ronaldo so they’ve got to put him up front. 

Ronaldo was ineffective against the Saints and is currently on his biggest goal drought for 13 years
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Ronaldo was ineffective against the Saints and is currently on his biggest goal drought for 13 yearsCredit: GETTY
Warnock was particularly shocked by the effort of two United midfielders
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Warnock was particularly shocked by the effort of two United midfieldersCredit: Getty

“And midfield… I was quite embarrassed with Pogba and Fernandes. When they’ve got the ball, alright, okay, but the work they did, they can’t do that sort of work and get away with it in the Premier League, it’s impossible.”

It isn’t just forwards and midfielders causing an issue for Rangnick, but defenders too, with Warnock saying captain Harry Maguire hasn’t been on his game for 12 months.

But he was particularly miffed with left-back Luke Shaw, who is failing to follow up his public criticism of teammates with improved performances.

Warnock explained: “I heard Luke Shaw did a couple of interviews last week, and on Saturday I’m watching the game against Southampton and thinking, ‘close him down!’ 

Warnock is yet to see Shaw's calls for more effort backed up by the player himself
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Warnock is yet to see Shaw's calls for more effort backed up by the player himselfCredit: Getty

“Then he comes on the telly and says we’re not happy with this, we’re not happy with that, and I’m thinking, ‘Just do your job! Be a defender'. They never try to close the crosses down, then they come on and talk about other people!”

One of English football’s elder statesmen in the world of management, Warnock knows every motivational trick in the book.

But with United he feels he’d be scrambling for solutions to their current malaise, saying a serious plan is needed to return to former glories.

Asked how he would motivate the squad, Warnock replied: “I think you try everything. 

Rangnick has a reputation as a tactical innovator, but his motivational techniques are falling short so far
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Rangnick has a reputation as a tactical innovator, but his motivational techniques are falling short so far

“The problem is when you’ve got so many top players, he’ll want to please all of them. 

“Sometimes the best player on paper, you can’t play him, or you can’t find a system, and I think he’s in that situation with two or three players at the moment.

“Yeah you can get rid of the manager, but they need more than a manager, they need a plan, they need a plan about how they’re going to get this team ethic that they used to have. 

“Man United, if you look at the systems that they used to play, everybody worked their socks off and they all played together. 

“Here he might do a little bit of magic and we might win a game, we might have a 15 minute spell and score three goals, but overall week in week out, they should be getting a lot more out of the squad.”

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