Rock-and-roll football is back at Manchester United as the team hit the ground running under the czar of gegenpressing Ralf Rangnick. The German made his debut as head coach of the team against Crystal Palace, and though the scoreline read 1-0, his side were the dominant one by a country mile.
United had lined up in a 4-2-2-2 formation for the first time, unlike the 4-2-3-1 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford formed a front two ahead of “inverted wingers” Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho. This is Rangnick's preferred formation.
Moreover, United fans got a good preview of the kind of football to expect under the 62-year-old German. All his players, including the usually immobile Cristiano Ronaldo, pressed the opponent relentlessly.
“High speed, high intensity and high tempo,” he called it, after the match.
Rangnick was hired on Monday as manager until the end of the season but had to wait nearly a week before taking charge of his first game while he secured his work permit.
Ralf Rangnick tactics on display, 4-2-2-2 pressing. The squad has never looked this organised when pressing, the goals will definitely come, united has won balls high on the pitch & created tension, Ralf press is in Old Trafford #MUNCRY #MUFC pic.twitter.com/glefxwccb7
— fut say (@futpundit1) December 5, 2021
Though he fielded an unchanged side from the one that drew Chelsea, the tactical changes made it seem like a very different side from Solskjaer's counter-attacking one.
United players were playing more forward passes than usual, and had as many as 32 touches in the opponent's penalty box—the most in the post-Alex Ferguson era. They also managed to get away 16 shots on goals.
ALSO READ: Is Ralf Rangnick the saviour Manchester United need?
In the second half though, it seemed like the players started running out of steam as Palace's Jordan Ayew nearly scored. The team's fitness is one aspect Rangnick will have to focus on, if they are to press for 90 minutes every game.
Two players who could benefit the most from the new manager's style of play are winger Jadon Sancho and midfielder Fred, both of whom thrive in a high-pressing system.
The decisive moment in #MUNCRY, courtesy of @Fred08Oficial! ⚽#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 5, 2021
“I was positively surprised by the physical state and intensity, the first half-hour was amazing, I felt it was extremely high-tempo, high intensity, always on the front foot,” said Rangnick.
“I’m a big fan [of 4-2-2-2]. The most challenging, demanding positions in that formation are the two 10s,” he said.
United won thanks to a rare goal from Fred at Old Trafford.
The Brazil midfielder took aim with his weaker right foot and curled a shot from the edge of the area into the far corner in the 77th minute. United jumped to sixth place in the Premier League standings after the win.
- With inputs from PTI.
