Ralf Rangnick has praised the way Manchester United supporters inside Old Trafford rallied around Anthony Elanga after his penalty miss against Middlesbrough on Friday night.
The Teesisiders equalised in the second half of the Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie and, with the sides still level after extra-time, a penalty shootout was required to separate them.
With all 15 penalties until then scored and the visitors 8-7 up, Elanga stepped forward needing to find the net to keep United in the tie, but he could not hit the target.
On a weekend where the actions of supporters came under scrutiny after an unsavoury incident in the Nottingham Forest v Leicester City fixture, Ralf couldn’t speak highly enough of how the Reds crowd responded.
“So far what I have experienced here with our club, we have massive support, including the reaction of the Stretford End and our fans with regard to Anthony Elanga,”
Rangnick said, in the second part of his pre-match press conference for Tuesday’s game with Burnley.
“They supported him.”Rangnick was also keen to point out how Elanga’s team-mates, many of whom will have been in a similar position in the past, were quick to console him.“He got all the support from his team-mates,” he added.
“There were several players including Bruno hugging him and going to him, including myself.
“This is normal, this is football.“There have been a lot of other more experienced players missing a decisive penalty in the last 100 years.”