Rangnick explains his Manchester United team selection against City

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Manchester United’s interim boss Ralf Rangnick has explained his team selection for the Manchester derby.

There is no Luke Shaw, Raphael Varane, Edinson Cavani or Cristiano Ronaldo involved in the Reds’ squad.

Explaining his team selection and the quartets absence on MUTV, Rangnick said: “Varane and Shaw have tested positive for Covid-19. Edi trained well in the last three days but in the end he didn’t feel quite well enough to be able to play.

“Cristiano had some problems with his hip flexor on Friday.

“We shouldn’t let them play all the times through our lines, be as compact as we can be, winning balls in the areas in the middle of the pitch, then be dangerous on the counter attack ourselves.”

The Manchester United starting line-up is: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Pogba, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho.

Club captain Harry Maguire comes into the side to replace Varane, Scott McTominay replaces Nemanja Matic and Jadon Sancho is in for the injured Ronaldo.

They are the three changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Watford at Old Trafford last Saturday.

It will be Sancho’s first appearance at the Etihad Stadium and Anthony Elanga will make his Manchester derby debut.

United don’t have a recognised striker in the starting line-up, but the likes of Elanga, Fernandes and Sancho could all interchange and occupy the false number nine role at times.