1. Youth will be given a chance
Ralf Rangnick pointedly named the same starting XI that began Michael Carrick’s final game as caretaker manager; the 3-2 win over Arsenal in midweek.
That represented a vote of confidence in little-used right-back Diogo Dalot, who was kept in the position despite the availability of fit-again regular Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and had a hand in the goal.
But it also provided a pragmatic reminder from the new manager that, with just one pre-game training session under his belt since his official appointment on Wednesday, he was naming an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-Carrick line-up, rather than one of his own.
For anyone looking for a symbolic gesture from Ragnick, however, there were no places on the bench for either Jesse Lingard or Anthony Marial, both of whom were thrown on late by Carrick against Arsenal. Instead, teenage Swedish striker Anthony Elanga was brought on for the final 15 minutes.
It was an effective, passive-aggressive reminder, perhaps, to some under-achieving veterans that Rangnick will give youth its chance.
2. Formation adapted for Ronaldo
The big tactical question of how veteran Cristiano Ronaldo would cope with Rangnick’s favoured pressing game was quickly answered.
Playing Solskjaer’s favoured 4-2-3-1 when in possession; United switched to a 4-2-2-2 as soon as they lost the ball, with Marcus Rashford joining Ronaldo in attack and, to all intents and purposes, doing his running for him.
It led to a pacy start by the Reds – another quality badly lacking under Solskjaer – and, for 35 minutes at least, Palace were simply unable to easily move the ball out of their final third of the field.
United were also more direct in possession, moving the ball upfield quickly and, although the press was hardly employed in the second half, it offered a glimpse of Rangnick’s future vision.
3. Rashford looks reborn
Although he did not complete the full 90 minutes, Rashford was one of the United players who seemed to benefit most from the new manager “bump”.
A lot of that was to do with his role in the effective press that his team employed in the first half but there was a general stride in his step, and positivity, with and without the ball, that was missing so often under Solskjaer.
4. Pressing system needs work
The high-octane, “heavy metal” pressing game faded badly after the interval – a combination, perhaps, of a lack of fitness or, more worryingly, buy-in from some of the senior players.
By the hour mark, United’s forwards, in particular, seemed content to abandon the approach and the fact the hosts invited Palace to have more of the ball opened up the chance to hit them on the counter-attack.
That aspect aside, the United players clearly responded to the new management while Rangnick himself spent most of the first half standing, hands behind back, in the United technical area.
That studious look may have owed as much to the shiny dress shoes favoured by the German, which looked treacherous on the touchline, but Rangnick appeared as in control and analytical as his reputation suggested he would be.
5. Fred catches the eye
Of all the match-winners at his disposal, Rangnick’s first came from an unlikely source – the holding midfielder Fred.
Superb as the Brazilian’s finish was, his very presence in the starting line-up would have been one widely questioned by United supporters.
Solskjaer’s loyalty to Fred, and the fact he almost always favoured pairing him with Scott McTominay in a two-man holding midfield, became a symbol for his unsuccessful final few months in charge at Old Trafford.
But while Fred’s passing was as unpredictable and inconsistent as usual against Palace, his work rate was phenomenal and will have caught Rangnick’s eye even before the brilliant finish.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/31uoATw
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