Manchester United News: Rangnick Explains Why His Top Striker Is Better Than Haaland

A Manchester United striker may have already left his mark on Ralf Rangnick.

The Red Devils’ final UEFA Champions League group match at Old Trafford ended up in a 1-1 draw.

Though the home team failed to steal a win, Rangnick is still pleased with how his squad performed.

Easily among the most notable performers was Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who scored the club’s only goal of the game.

Greenwood came out firing early in the match, hitting the back of the net for the Red Devils at the ninth minute.

He continued to play hard the entire game, prompting Rangnick to rave about his overall skill set after the match.

"I think today he also showed, not only because of that beautiful goal but the way he set up the opp for Juan Mata was brilliant," Rangnick said of Greenwood in the postgame presser. "He's a massive talent. Left foot, right foot, good on the ball, also the way that he set up the goal for Fred on Sunday.”

"Still, it's about continuity, he has to develop physically but technically, for his age, he is a great player,” he continued. “My job is to develop him, to make an athlete out of him, and if he manages to do that can be a regular player for this club.”

What’s even more interesting, Rangnick went on to compare Greenwood's game to Borussia Dortmund’s goal machine Erling Haaland.

According to the German tactician, Haaland is a sharpshooting striker, but Greenwood is way more versatile.

"Erling [Haaland], for me, is a target striker, who can play as a single striker like a target man or in a 4-4-2,” the manager assessed. “I think Mason [Greenwood] is more of a nine-and-a-half, he can play as a striker, he can also come from the wing, he can play with another striker, he is very technical, left foot, right foot.”

As for room for improvement, Rangnick stressed that the only thing he wants to improve in the 19-year-old is his athleticism.

"Sometimes he looks a bit not on an athletic level. I think we have to develop him there physically, but technically all the things he can do with the ball are outstanding,” he evaluated. "I am not so much worried about his technical level. We need to develop him physically and mentally and if we manage to do that he can become a regular player and an invaluable player for our club in the future."

Greenwood is likely to be handed pitch time once again when Manchester United takes on Norwich City this weekend.