"Something I didn't think could happen" - Ralf Rangnick unhappy with latest change made to Manchester United's fixture list

Ralf Rangnick is unimpressed with Manchester United's game against Chelsea being preponed to April 28.

The match was originally set to be played on May 15. However, with the Blues booking a spot in the FA Cup final, the game will now be played next Thursday.

Manchester United boss Rangnick expressed his disappointment on the club's official website, saying:

"The fact that the Chelsea game was changed from the original fixture is something I didn’t think could happen. Normally in Germany, the last two games of the season have to be played on the very same day and with the same kick-off time. Obviously, it’s different here."

Rangnick expressed his concern with several of the first-team players injured. He added:

"For us it's not good because we have a number of injured players so it would have been better for the Chelsea game to be played two weeks later when it was originally planned. But anyway, we have to deal with it and hopefully by then we will have two or three of those injured players available again."

He also said:

"We have to play at our very best possible level with those three games and we need to try to win as many of them as possible."

Manchester United face Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in consecutive games

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Manchester United are perhaps heading into the most important week of their campaign. The Red Devils are out of all competitions and are desperate to make it to the top four in the Premier League.

They are currently in fifth position with 54 points after 32 games. Arsenal are level on points with them but have played one game less and are currently sixth. Tottenham Hotspur occupy the fourth spot, and are on 57 points after 32 games.

Speaking about their next three games (Liverpool away, Arsenal away and Chelsea at home), Rangnick said:

"We have to take it game by game. We know the importance of the Liverpool game, not only for us to stay in the race for [position] number four, but also for the fans, knowing that the team lost the first fixture this season 5-0 at Old Trafford. We are fully aware of the importance of this game."

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About the author

Diptanil is a European football journalist and sports editor at Sportskeeda. He completed his Master’s in Sports Management from Coventry University and has a total work experience of 7 years. A true expert of the beautiful game, Diptanil also studies the sport from the data analytics perspective.

Diptanil focuses on in-depth research, objective writing, and cultural sensitivity when creating content, and always strives to give his readers something new to take away from each of his articles. His ability to streamline information and let it reach a natural conclusion as opposed to telling a story with a pre-fixed narrative sets him apart from other journalists.

He became a fan of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea after their record-breaking 2004-05 season and their 2008-09 Champions League semifinal defeat was a bittersweet learning experience for him. Diptanil’s favorite player is Frank Lampard who is known for his hard work and dedication as a football professional. He loves how his favorite manager Carlo Ancelotti strikes a fine balance in keeping the game both player-oriented and data-driven.

Outside of Europe's top five leagues, Diptanil follows Liga Portugal, the Indian Super League, and Saudi Pro League. His other interests include doing charity work, watching period dramas, and world politics.

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Edited by Arjun Panchadar