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Manchester United have played 12 matches across all competitions since Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager. They have had a relatively easy set of fixtures to navigate and yet they have only won six of those games.
How much of an impact has Ralf Rangnick had at Manchester United?
Manchester United have only scored 14 goals in Rangnick's first 12 games in charge as manager. They have conceded nine. The Red Devils have shored up their defence more or less and exhibit a lot more control over proceedings these days than they did towards the end of Solskjaer's reign.
The Old Trafford faithful will tell you that their team has in fact outplayed their opposition in almost all of their games under Rangnick. But they just don't have the results to show for it. It is exciting and entertaining football but the results have been massively frustrating and the players have to take responsibility.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five things Manchester United need to improve on to finish inside the top four.
#5 Exercise greater control over spells
After their 1-1 draw against 20th placed Burnley on Tuesday night, Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said:
"We wanted to dominate the game but for sure when you come to Burnley away you are not going to dominate for 90 minutes. We had to see it out better. We conceded like against Middlesbrough when they had that spell of pressure. We have got to be that bit more clinical."
The problem with the Red Devils in recent weeks, where they have, time and again, come up against weaker opposition, is that they lose control of the game for extended spells. Take the game against Aston Villa for example.
Manchester United had a two-goal advantage going into the final 15 minutes of the game. They were then swept away by Aston Villa in the final quarter of an hour and the game ended 2-2. On Tuesday, they played Burnley out of the park in the first half and the Clarets couldn't even register a shot on goal in the first 45.
But Sean Dyche's men were able to come out in the second half and take the game to Manchester United and get their equalizer. The same thing happened against Middlesbrough last week, where the Championship side were afforded time to get into their groove and have a shot at winning the game.
The worst thing about all of this seems to be that the United captain believes that his team cannot dominate for 90 minutes. Few teams can dominate for 90 minutes at a stretch, but when they are on top, they make it count better than Rangnick's men do. The Red Devils don't make their domination translate to goals.
They also seem to concede every time they relinquish control or get on the back foot. Ralf Rangnick's men need to do better at managing games, especially when they are in control.
#4 Improve their attacking down the right flank
The main reasoning behind choosing Diogo Dalot over Aaron Wan-Bissaka in recent times seems to be that the former is much better in an attacking sense. While Dalot has had a couple of moments in each of the last few games, he has not dispensed his primary attacking duties well.
The 22-year-old shares no understanding with Marcus Rashford. He does not make overlapping or underlapping runs as well as Luke Shaw does and he hardly ever puts in a cross. The Portuguese international's ability to whip crosses into the box from the right wing and that was hailed as his redemptive quality.
But his crossing has been particularly awful in recent weeks. He has improved massively on the defensive side of things but seems to offer nothing going forward.
The less said about Rashford's effectiveness down the right flank, the better. With Mason Greenwood rightly suspended and unlikely to feature for the club ever again, United's right-wing problem is set to persist for longer.
The Red Devils are a team that mostly progresses the ball down the flanks. Without proper balance, this team is going to suffer as opponents know exactly what to expect from them each time they foray forward.
#3 Improve decision making in the final third
Some of Manchester United's decision-making in the final third has been awful. Marcus Rashford is one of the main culprits. The moment the 24 year old finds some space inside the final third, he goes hell for leather no matter how difficult the angle is.
It's not as though he has been extremely successful with his long-range shooting. He often ignores his teammates who are in much better positions than him every time he is afforded space in and around the box. The same goes for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose best days are clearly behind him.
Even Bruno Fernandes is guilty of having a crack instead of finding a teammate in a better position at times. But it's hard to fault someone who is clearly the most creative player in the side.
Their decision making in the final third and the quality of their final ball has to improve drastically if they are to become a team that can perform at a high level consistently.
#2 Manchester United need a double defensive midfield pivot
Tear your hair out all you want, but McFred is the way to go in midfield. Paul Pogba's labored movement and lack of discipline in central midfield is a constant problem for Manchester United. Don't get us wrong, the Frenchman is a wonderful playmaker but his defensive qualities are nothing to write home about.
Scott McTominay's positioning and awareness is still not at the level you'd expect from a Manchester United holding midfielder. While his ball progression skills and tenacity are commendable, the Scottish international still gets caught out of position during defensive transitions.
Burnley's equalizer from last night was a case in point. McTominay will obviously perform better ahead of a more solid backline. Unfortunately for him, Harry Maguire is always susceptible to blunders.
So the Scotsman needs Fred to sweep up when he's stuck higher up the pitch and the opposition breaks on a counter. But where will Paul Pogba go? Manchester United definitely need him too. That brings us to the next point.
#1 Bench Cristiano Ronaldo and play Bruno Fernandes as a false 9
Cristiano Ronaldo is nowhere near as good as he used to be. He has scored some vital goals for Manchester United this season but he has now gone goalless in the last five games. This is his biggest goal drought since his early days at Real Madrid in 2010.
He has also been guilty of missing numerous opportunities in recent weeks, including a penalty against Middlesbrough. Ronaldo's link-up play has been awful as well and he often slows down the attack by dropping deep and being sloppy with the ball at his feet.
Bruno Fernandes scored 28 goals for Manchester United across all competitions last season. There is no doubt that he is one of the best finishers in the side. He has simply not been allowed to get into those goalscoring positions in Ronaldo's presence.
The writing is on the wall. Bench Ronaldo and play Bruno Fernandes as a false 9 with Paul Pogba operating behind him. Throw Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford on the wings and let a free-flowing attack make its way back to Old Trafford.
