Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri blames players for Manchester United defeat after fans turn on Italian

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri accused his team of losing their composure as their hopes of surviving in the Premier League are now dangling by a thread.

After their 3-0 defeat by Manchester United, Ranieri’s side have lost five of their last six games and are seven points from safety.

The Italian’s decision to ostracise teenager Ryan Sessegnon and captain Tom Cairney, both of whom started on the bench on Saturday, is doing little to endear him to the Cottage locals. 

Claudio Ranieri’s side have lost five of their last six games and are seven points from safety

The manager was booed from the field, having been taunted by chants of ‘You don’t know what you are doing’ when he brought on Cyrus Christie for Andre Schurrle in the 53rd minute. 

Ranieri said: ‘I understand the fans. Ryan is a good player but not at his best fitness and form. He is working. The fans want to see the players fight. We lost 3-0. We are in a very dangerous situation. I told the players we need to show we are alive. We lost our composure and confidence.’

Ranieri had asked his players to be ‘soldiers’ this week but after a bright start, Fulham meekly surrendered.

He added: ‘We started very well and created two great chances. Then Paul Pogba scored and I was thinking “Stay calm and we find solutions.” 

‘My players are not anxious, but want the equaliser immediately. I have the soldiers because we wanted to score even at 3-0. We hit the post.’

Fans are unhappy with the Italian’s decision to ostracise teenager Ryan Sessegnon (left)