Manchester United have been called a 'shambles' and a 'laughing stock' by Jason Cundy after Jesse Lingard publicly contradicted manager Ralf Rangnick.

The midfielder was forced to clarify comments made by the Old Trafford boss during his press conference on Thursday.

Lingard is not the first player to question Rangnick on social media

Rangnick suggested Lingard had asked for time off to clear his head after failing to secure a loan move away from Old Trafford during the January transfer window.

However, the England international insists missing Friday night's FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough was the club's idea, not his.

He said on Twitter: "The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons!

"But my headspace is clear and I'll always be professional when called upon and give 100 per cent."

It mirrors a similar incident with forward Anthony Martial, who recently left United to join Sevilla on loan.

Rangnick claimed Martial had made himself unavailable for last month's draw with Aston Villa, before the France international rubbished those claims on social media.

Rangnick and Martial had a public disagreement

Ex-Chelsea striker Cundy questions whether these public disputes would happen under legendary United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in a damning attack on the club.

He told the Sports Bar on talkSPORT: "What's really interesting is one side, the manager, is saying he's asked for time off.

"And the player absolutely contradicts that and refutes anything like that by saying the club asked him to take time off.

"The club is a shambles. This is shambolic. This would never happen under Sir Alex.

"The player saying one thing, Sir Alex coming out and saying another? The club is a laughing stock.

"Any United fan must be hearing that Rangnick press conference and thinking, 'What is going on at my football club?'

Rangnick is yet to inspire a complete upturn in form at United

"FA Cup games are different. But when you've got the manager saying one thing and the player saying another within hours of each other, you've got yourself a massive problem.

"That's why Man United right now are in the mess they are."

Meanwhile, ex-England winger Trevor Sinclair believes these incidents put 'question marks' over Rangnick's credentials as United boss.

Sinclair told Breakfast on talkSPORT: "A pattern is developing with Rangnick. Martial came out and said he was ready to play, and now it's Lingard.

"I think it puts a question mark about Rangnick and what he's bringing to the table at Man United."