Manchester United: 3 things we learnt from Ralf Rangnick’s first game
2) Attack is the best form of defense
It takes a lot more than a day’s training to drill a team’s defensive shape and organization – in fact, a whole lot more.
However early signs during Rangnick’s first game already suggest that there will be defensive improvements in United’s attacking and pressing to regain possession high up the pitch hence relieving some of the pressure on the defensive unit.
The attacking shape could get narrow with the two attacking midfielders tucking in to operate and create in dangerous areas around the box meaning, the width was held by the fullbacks being high and wide up the pitch.
Alex Telles and Diogo Dalot performed these roles reasonably well and even though it’s very early to tell, the two fullbacks previously out of the team through the majority of the season might be better suited to these fullback roles than the players they replaced.
Manchester United won possession in the final third 12 times vs. Crystal Palace.
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 5, 2021
That’s the most they’ve done so in a Premier League match since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
What an impact Ralf Rangnick has made already! 📈 pic.twitter.com/z1rigMRwnb
Dalot pressed high and made constant marauding runs forward and even found himself playing one-two’s around the box and worked it into position for a shot – traits that are well suited to the system and not necessarily strengths for the defensively adept Wan-Bissaka.