The interim boss of Manchester United knew he was taking on a tough job. The home defeat by Wolves confirmed it.
After a result that left United in seventh spot, two points behind Spurs, who have a game in hand, Rangnick was honest enough to admit that: "I don't know if we will finish in the top four."
The manner of United's performance was not as bad as the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign, with the visitors dominating for long periods.
Shaw questioned his team's togetherness while saying Wolves were "miles better".
There was a hint of a lack of unity in the stands, where the decision to replace Mason with Bruno was greeted with boos.
Shaw described Phil Jones' display as "phenomenal", as the one positive to come from the loss.
In the first half, United only had two shots on target, from Bruno Fernandes and CristianoRonaldo.
We need to bring more motivation.
It was the first defeat for United since Solskjaer's final game in charge, atWatford, on 20 November, but it was not the first disappointing display from the men in charge.
"I knew it would be difficult, but I didn't think it was that big of a deal," he said.
They brought me because of that. I knew it would be difficult to find a balance between the two.
The team had similar problems before I arrived. It's not easy to develop a DNA without the ball. There are still a few steps to go.
Wolves were the better side in the first-half, and Rangnick was unhappy with his side's failure to stop Adama Traore putting over the cross that led to Joao Moutinho's goal.
The home side's eight-game winning run came to an end when substitute Fernandes struck the bar with his first touch after coming on, and Jose Sa saved the Portuguese player's injury-time free-kick.
Shaw told Sky Sports that they need to have more intensity. I didn't think we were all together.
Sometimes quality is not enough, we have unbelievable quality, but sometimes it's not enough. We need to bring more motivation.
We know what we want in the dressing room, but we need to give our all on the field. To win these types of games, we need to be 100% committed.
Jones wasphenomenal.
Jones blocked three shots. No other player blocked more than one.
Jones has been through hell and back over the last couple of years after struggling with injury and lockdown.
The 29-year-old missed last season with a knee issue and, before his return against Wolves, last played for United's first team in January 2020 in the FA Cup third round.
The longest gap between appearances for Manchester United has been for any player who has not left the club.
According to Richards, Jones is United's best player and their only positive.
Phil Jones should be proud of himself. He has been criticized for a long time, but he is so professional and he was amazing. I am happy for him and he deserves it.
Jones' first touch, a clearing headed, earned enthusiastic applause from the home fans and he was soon ordering Wan-Bissaka around and urging the United support to make more noise after a typically robust challenge on Daniel Podence.
Jones' clearance that led to Moutinho's winner should not diminish the contribution of a player for whom getting back into the United team shows his moral fortitude, given how easily he could have been overwhelmed by the social media ridicule he has been subjected to.
"He did well," said Rangnick. He hadn't played at that level for two years but he played well in the last two weeks. It wasn't because of Phil Jones that we lost.
United have too many passengers.
Chris said that it was early to judge Rangnick because United were a mess. There are too many people. They have a lot of problems.
Some players run and some don't. That is a huge problem. After making signings in the summer, United wanted to become Manchester City. They are a disaster because they are not in possession.
Can Manchester United get into the top four? It is very unlikely.
