New Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick is famous for his quick style, pressing football, and has said to have influenced a few of the current German managers with the likes of Klopp and Tuchel the most famous of his students.
After what we have seen in the last matches, it can be said that he has restored United’s confidence that some handicappers have predicted that United can bounce back from the poor run they suffered under Ole to be among the best once again, so , it’s no surprise to see Manchester United being picked by the best online sportsbooks as the favorites to win their third league match on the bounce against Brighton at -125 odds.
Although Rangnick hasn’t previously worked in England, his sphere of influence can be found in the Premier League already.
Manchester United’s decision to appoint the 63- year old, initially as interim manager and then in an advisory role, is an indication that the club’s hierarchy is attempting to establish a clearly defined quick-playing-style football popularly called ‘Gegenpressing’ by fans.
For United’s new style of play to work, the strategy demands constant pressure to force their opponent high up the field in an aggressive and coordinated manner to force mistakes.
With Ragnick’s energetic style of play, designed to unsettle opponents and hit them on the counter-attack while they are vulnerable, it’s expected that only tactically disciplined players will be needed in the near future.
As seen from Ragnick’s previous teams, he prefers quick, nimble players who are tidy on the ball and have got an eye for a good pass through the opponent’s lines.
While Pogba and Van De Beek have been touted as a pair of the best midfielders this decade with both having different passing abilities, Pogba loves long square passes while Van De Beek on the other hand prefers quick short passes, but it remains to be seen if they will be preferred by the new gaffer.
“Our idea is clear, it’s very, very similar to my coaching friend Jurgen Klopp,” he told the Coaches’ Voice YouTube channel. “Our Red Bull football is heavy metal, rock, and roll, it’s not a slow waltz. We hate square passes, back passes, just having the ball ourselves doesn’t make sense.”
Speaking about his second spell in charge of RB Leipzig (in 2018-19), Rangnick explained that 60 percent of the team’s goals scored that season came less than 10 seconds after they had won the ball from their opponents.
So intense are Rangnick’s demands, that at Hoffenheim, Salzburg, and Leipzig, the vast majority of players signed were aged 23 or under. A young Roberto Firmino was his final recruit at Hoffenheim, while more recently Sadio Mane, Joshua Kimmich, and Erling Haaland have passed through one of Red Bull’s clubs.
Rangnick’s track record for identifying young players in his role as a sporting director and nurturing their talent as a coach should stand United in good stead given their aging squad.
Marcus Rashford, 23, Mason Greenwood, 20, and in particular, Jadon Sancho, 21, should all benefit from his expertise. Donny van de Beek, 24, is another who may benefit.
Pogba, 28, with a long history of demanding transfers to new clubs, he might be allowed to seek his future elsewhere under the German tactician.
Looking at United’s last two matches, it is clear he means business, forward passes, quick play and exceptional tactical discipline are the real basics under Rangnick.
The problem with the manager’s formation is that Pogba doesn’t exactly fit into any of the roles that Rangnick is looking to make use of.
While some may argue that Pogba is one of the best passers out there, it is clear that he lacks the tactical discipline both defensively and attack-wise needed under his new manager, especially defending in his half.
Several times recently he has cost United by either failing to track back or press forward when it is clear he should have done so Pogba lost possession 602 times under Mourinho in the 2018/2019 season with only two players having lost the ball more.
He cost Ole several times as well and in this season’s first Champion’s League match where United lost 1-2, Pogba lost possession 10 times before half time.
While he has all the skills needed to play in any world-class team, the French midfielder’s lack of discipline might be his greatest undoing, with the constant reminder of his agent demanding transfers to Real Madrid and his position in jeopardy, now might be the best time for Pogba to seek a move.
Ex-Ajax Donny Van De Beek who was an integral member of their spectacular 2019 season has also failed to impress in his new club with the midfielder struggling to get game time.
The new gaffer has said he intends to use a 4-2-2-2, stating he prefers to use a double 10 as seen in the game against Palace fielding Bruno and Sancho in that role and this is good news for Van de Beek who has already admitted he doesn’t care what position he plays, he just wants to play football.
Considering his age, Donny will certainly get his chance soon either to play as a no 4 or no 10 and it is only left to see if he will take his chances or not – At 24, De Beek hasn’t even reached the peak of his career and it’s certainly hoped that Rangnick’s ‘gegenpressing’ style will finally bring the best out of him.
Though, the two players in question are talented and have the ability to hit to go up through the gears with any team, but with Fred and McTominay constant pressing style, it will be difficult to displace them both and with Pogba not likely to commit to United’s future, Van De Beek might finally get his chance, but now his obstacle could be the resurgence of Sancho.
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