Ralf Rangnick confirmed as Manchester United interim manager
Manchester United caretaker boss Michael Carrick has played down talk of Cristiano Ronaldo being benched against Chelsea last time out, claiming that it has not been perceived as a major decision within the group. The Portuguese's reaction after the final whistle on Sunday suggested otherwise, scrambling quickly down the tunnel despite an impressive draw at Stamford Bridge.
There has been plenty of talk over Ronaldo's role with the club going forward, with incoming boss Ralf Rangnick likely to implement a change of system.
Based on his managerial career to date, that is likely to involve pressing from the front, something which the 36-year-old is not generally associated with.
There were shades of that philosophy against Chelsea last time out, a game in which Man Utd defied the odds by leaving Stamford Bridge with a point.
Attention will turn towards whether Ronaldo is reinstated against Arsenal on Thursday night, or whether Carrick will stick with the recipe that served them well last weekend.
Michael Carrick will be on the touchline for Thursday's clash with Arsenal (Image: GETTY)
During Wednesday afternoon's press conference, Carrick said: "I think those types of decisions get blown up [as more important] than they are.
"When you're inside the team and the club, decisions are made for lots of different reasons, certain ones get bigger news than others, I didn't see it as a major decision.
"It certaintly wasn't within the group.
"We all got on really well, the game went well to an extent and it wasn't a drama at all."
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Indeed, Carrick claimed at the weekend that Ronaldo made no issue out of his decision after a private chat before the game.
The frontman is comfortably United's top scorer this campaign with 10 in all competitions, but since his summer arrival from Juventus, the team's fortunes as a whole have suffered.
Whether that is down to his involvement is difficult to stay, but Carrick may be tempted to stick with the recipe that earned them a point at perhaps the toughest ground in the country last weekend.
Thursday's clash with Arsenal could have huge implications on the top-four race, with both clubs expected to be there or there abouts come the end of the campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped for Chelsea vs Man Utd (Image: GETTY)
The disastrous form of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's final few weeks in charge of the Red Devils has left them 10 points off the league leaders, and five points behind the Gunners.
Old Trafford could host the final instalment of Carrick's caretaker stint in charge on Thursday night, with Ralf Rangnick officially appointed as interim boss until the end of the season on Monday.
Work permit issues are currently standing in the way of his touchline debut, with officials working hard behind the scenes to facilitate his arrival.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, Rangnick is already rumoured to be monitoring the trio of Amadou Haidara, Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner.
