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Manchester United have got off to a decent start under new interim manager Ralf Rangnick. The German coach took charge of the team in last week's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. He then sent out a young, experimental lineup against the Young Boys in midweek.
The youngsters didn't disappoint and were able to come away with a 1-1 draw. The big stars were brought back as the Red Devils traveled to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City on Saturday. It turned out to be a battle more fierce than Ralf Rangnick would have expected.
But thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, they were able to pocket three very valuable points. Manchester United have moved up to fifth in the Premier League table. It is much too early to gauge Ralf Rangnick's impact at Manchester United.
The former RB Leipzig manager has his own philosophy and style of play and it will take some time before this United side get accustomed to that. But Rangnick has already made a number of key decisions since taking over at Manchester United.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five changes Ralf Rangnick has already implemented at Manchester United.
#5 Fresh roles for Scott McTominay and Fred
Ralf Rangnick uses a high backline and that is something that has greatly helped Manchester United in their past three games. United's backline is used to being pegged back in their own half and this in turn forces the defensive midfielders to cover too much lateral space.
However, with the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof maintaining a high backline, Fred and McTominay are more involved in and around the final third. While McTominay has turned in a couple of impressive performances, it is Fred who seems to be on his way to becoming a very important cog in the side.
The Brazilian midfielder's ability to beat a man is proving to be very handy for Manchester United. He scored Manchester United's winning goal against Crystal Palace. He was also heavily involved in the build-up play against Norwich City.
While Fred's doggedness is much talked about, the style of play that Manchester United were using under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn't help bring out his other strengths. Ralf Rangnick seems to know how to use that same double midfield pivot, also known as McFred, much better.
#4 Manchester United full-backs start higher up under Ralf Rangnick
While this was pretty much part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's early plans, there were plenty more variables involved. Under Jose Mourinho, the United squad had become next to dysfunctional and imbalanced.
In order to gain defensive solidity, Solskjaer had to end up relying on the tackling ability of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in addition to his centre-backs. Wan-Bissaka is not particularly good in attack but he can put a shift in at the back.
Under Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United's full-backs start higher up the pitch. Of course, this is a byproduct of United holding a high line altogether. But in Rangnick's 4-2-2-2 system, the full-backs are the ones who primarily provide the width.
As a result, Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles, who are capable of whipping in fantastic crosses, have been starting for Manchester United. They've also been doing a very good job.
#3 Aggressive pressing
This is one of the most obvious changes that we've seen with Manchester United. Rangnick pioneered the 'gegenpressing' system whereby players try to press and win the ball back immediately after losing possession. This is the system that Jurgen Klopp has successfully implemented at Liverpool.
The Red Devils won possession in the final third a whopping 12 times against Crystal Palace which was Rangnick's first game in charge. That was the most they've done in a game since Sir Alex Ferguson left the manager's role.
Manchester United were also very poor at making tackles earlier. The most number of tackles that Manchester United have made in a game this season came against Crystal Palace (24). The second highest came against Norwich City (21). Those were the first two matches under Rangnick.
#2 Defensive solidity
Manchester United have kept two clean sheets in two Premier League games under Ralf Rangnick. While Crystal Palace and Norwich City are not exactly the kind of opposition that United would want to test themselves against, there has been a marked improvement in their defensive work.
The only goal they've conceded so far in the three games that Rangnick has been in charge of came from a horrendous back pass from Donny van de Beek. The most important thing to note is that Manchester United have not been conceding too many easy chances either.
In the last couple of months under Solskjaer, Manchester United's defence looked vulnerable every time the opposition attacked. That is slowly starting to change now thanks to how organized the team has been on the field since Rangnick took over.
#1 Ralf Rangnick offers a non-diplomatic front
Ralf Rangnick takes a no-nonsense approach to his pressers. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a very agreeable manager who chose his words carefully in the presser. Rangnick is a bit more to the point.
With Solskjaer cautious not to say anything that might even rub his players the wrong way, there was a feeling that perhaps he may have been too friendly. A coach needs to be admirable and intimidating in equal amounts for him to exercise a certain amount of authority over the players.
Rangnick seems to be a proponent of that philosophy. Paul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has been up to his usual tricks, publicly undermining Manchester United and inviting attention to his client's unresolved contract situation.
Additionally, Anthony Martial's agent Philippe Lamboley revealed last week that the player wants to leave the club. Rangnick's response to these comments from the players' agents was:
"Players have to want to play and stay at a big club like Manchester United.
"If a player does not want to play for a club like Manchester United medium or long-term, I don't think it makes sense to convince him to change his mind.
"I don't think anyone in the club should try to convince a player to stay."
Rangnick's response has been welcomed by the Manchester United fanbase who have grown tired of how Pogba lets his agent drag the club through the mud.
