Ralf Rangnick reveals why Cristiano Ronaldo is out of Man Utd’s clash with City as Varane and Shaw miss derby with Covid

MANCHESTER UNITED are without Cristiano Ronaldo this afternoon due to a hip injury, manager Ralf Rangnick has revealed.

The Red Devils travel to the Etihad chasing a crucial three points in the battle for top four.

They will be seeking a positive result without talisman Ronaldo, however, with the Portuguese absent from the matchday squad.

Veteran forward Edinson Cavani is also unavailable to Rangnick.

The German explained: "Edi trained well last three days but at the end he didn't feel quite well enough to be able to play.

"Cristiano had some problems with his hip flexor on Friday and since then didn't play."

United are also without Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane due to Covid-19, Rangnick went on to confirm.

Despite Ronaldo and Cavani's absences, Marcus Rashford has only made the bench.

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David de Gea starts between the sticks for United, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Alex Telles ahead of him.

Scott McTominay and Fred line up in midfield, as well as Paul Pogba.

Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho then line up off makeshift frontman Anthony Elanga.

United legend Gary Neville doesn't think that Ronaldo is a big miss for his old side today.

He told Sky Sports: "United over the last three or four years, particularly under Ole [Gunner Solskjaer] were a counter attack team.

"[They were] really comfortable sitting back, punching out through [Marcus] Rashford and others on the break.

"And I think that will be exactly the same today, and actually Cristiano not being in the team, I could never say it's a positive, but actually I don't see it as the big loss that I might do in other games."

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