Could Rangnick be ready to rip up his 4-2-2-2 formation ALREADY? Manchester United interim boss admits that using a three-man defence IS an option amid poor form and dressing room unrest at Old Trafford
- Ralf Rangnick has said that United could revert to playing three at the back
- He was appointed as interim boss in November and changed United’s formation
- Rangnick won his first game against Crystal Palace in the 4-2-2-2 formation
- But, he has struggled to pick up results against Wolves, Newcastle and more
Ralf Rangnick has said that Manchester United could revert to playing three at the back this season.
Rangnick was appointed as interim manager in November and changed United’s formation to 4-2-2-2 for his opening game against Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils won that match 1-0 but have since struggled to perform in the new system. As a result, Rangnick has said that United could change back to the formation Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used.
Ralf Rangnick has said that United could revert to playing three at the back this season
Speaking to the club’s official website, Rangnick said: ‘Well, I think most teams have their system in England and they stick to it.
‘But there are also teams who switch from a back three to a back four, or from a back four to a back three.’
‘Or – like Bayern Munich, for example, or [RB] Leipzig, who also did it last season with Julien Nagelsmann – even if they play defensively in a back four, they try to rotate within this system, this formation, to a little bit of an asymmetric back three.
‘I think with our team, we have those two options. In order to play with a back three, we need to have most of our centre-backs available. I think under Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] the team did it, for example, in games like Tottenham, Atalanta away, or against Manchester City in the derby.
Manchester United have struggled to pick up results against Newcastle and Wolves (above)
Therefore, Rangnick could revert to the three at the back system Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used
‘I think we can play in the back three, this could be an option for us, but, as I said, it also depends on the players available, on the current shape and form of the players and also, to a certain extent, to the team against which we are playing.’
Rangnick was said to be bitterly disappointed in the immediate aftermath of the Wolves defeat last Monday.
He now understands that reaching the top four and Champions League qualification, which seemed a reasonable proposition on arrival, is going to be hard to achieve.
Specifically, he feels that style isn’t suited to his defenders. Captain Harry Maguire is enduring a wretched run of form after getting back to his best at the Euros last summer and conceded on Saturday night that his performances have been below par.
Captain Harry Maguire (left) is enduring a wretched run of form for United this season
Rangnick’s coaching team think the physical conditioning of the United team is below par
Rangnick is also frustrated with Manchester United’s recruitment. He is struggling to construct a coherent tactical system for a group of players signed by five different coaches with differing ideas. There has been no continuity in United’s managerial appointments.
Additionally, Rangnick’s coaching team think the physical conditioning of the team is below what they had expected.
United take on Villa at Old Trafford on Monday night and it will take a huge improvement in recent performances to prevent the atmosphere turning toxic.
