Manchester United were a mess when Ralf Rangnick took charge after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, but even he would not have expected his reign to have taken a turn for the worse so quickly. It has been obstacle after obstacle so far.
Poor performances, patchy results and growing disquiet from supporters has mounted the pressure on the shoulders of the interim boss who, with every passing week, looks set to miss out on hauling United into the top four by the scruff of their neck.
Indeed, as it stands, they will be fortunate to be playing Europa League football next season, a prospect certain to further stoke the anger spreading quickly across the fanbase. The race is far from over, of course, but improvement is needed – and fast.
Ralf Rangnick has endured a turbulent Manchester United stint, with their top four push failing
United threw away a two-goal lead at Aston Villa last time out, and next take on Brentford
That can start tonight against Brentford. Thomas Frank’s side have impressed this season, and look set to avoid dropping down into the Championship. Their home ground is a difficult place to go – United’s top four rivals can attest to that.
Here, Sportsmail looks at what United must do to ensure they avoid another slip-up.
KEEP THE 4-3-3
United showed a glimpse of a much more promising future during the first 30 minutes in their draw at Aston Villa. Ralf Rangnick opted for a 4-3-3 system, ditching his 4-2-2-2 and a number of other systems, which have flattered to deceive.
Nemanja Matic, Fred and Bruno Fernandes lined up next to each other, and delivered a better performance. It was far from perfect – as shown by the side collapsing in the second half and surrendering yet more valuable points.
But there was more creativity on show. United were notably more compact for spells, and were also able to shift the ball to their forwards quicker. It signalled a change in direction, and also pointed towards a set-up that boss Rangnick is keen to persevere with in West London..
Matic is likely to be dropped, but Fred and Fernandes appear certain to keep their spots. They must prevent another second-half disaster.
Bruno Fernandes was fielded in a midfield three at Villa Park, a system United must stick with
MAKE THE MOST OF SET PIECES
United have endured a difficult season with set pieces. Quite simply, they are the worst team in the Premier League when attacking dead ball situations, having scored from just one across the entire campaign.
Bizarrely, they hired a coach specifically tasked with improving these last summer.
Eric Ramsey’s arrival proved to be a false dawn. United started well against Everton during pre-season, with three of their four goals resulting from dead balls in one of Ramsey’s first games at the club. Since then, however, they have regressed.
Improvement in this area cannot come soon enough.
At the other end, United have had more success, conceding four goals from set pieces, ranking them as the joint fifth-best side in the top-flight. Brentford have been creative in this area, particularly from corners, scoring six altogether. They will seek to pull United apart, targeting first contact and second and third balls in the Red Devils’ penalty area.
Despite hiring a coach for set pieces, United have failed to impress during dead ball situations
SHARPEN UP THEIR PASSING
Under both Solskjaer and Rangnick, United have struggled to play through the lines, while the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool continued to piece together free-flowing moves.
Brentford have proven this season that they are happy to sit in a deep block and frustrate their opponents, particularly the so-called ‘bigger’ teams in the Premier League. United may find themselves facing a similar test tonight.
The midfield will be crucial, but this is an area of the pitch where United have struggled to both gain control and find fluency. They have been over-reliant on individual brilliance from Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.
Big strides were expected under Rangnick, given the interim manager’s demand for quick, vertical passes. Opta statistics suggest United have been playing more forward passes under Rangnick and they are longer, but the accuracy dropped off.
The passing may need to be precise to unpick Brentford.
United have struggled to piece together passing moves, and must quickly improve that area
PRESS BRENTFORD HARD
United thrilled during the first half of their clash against Crystal Palace, Rangnick’s first in charge, with their front-foot, pressing style. Since then, though, they have relaxed, with barely any pressure piled onto their opponents.
The patient approach would be acceptable to supporters if it gained good results, but the team have failed to impress even with their foot slightly off the pedal. The minimum expectation is hard work, and that must be visible in west London.
It therefore makes sense for United to look to engage Brentford higher up the pitch. It would allow their players to be closer together, making counter-attacks easier, and also hand the hosts a headache when looking to work their way down the pitch.
Yes, there is a risk. But Brentford’s relatively limp attacking output means that a high-octane approach is likely to pay off. Frank’s side have created just 127 chances from open play in the Premier League, the third-lowest amount across this campaign.
Because of this, United should look to start quickly, ensure they are in their opponents’ faces and look to pick up three crucial three points with a comprehensive display.
Despite hiring the demanding Rangnick, United have rarely heavily pressed their opponents
MAKE USE OF THE WINGS
Brentford have relied heavily on their 3-5-2 formation this season, which plays to their strengths superbly but also allows teams to exploit the space left in the wide positions. United will have to exploit these areas in their bid to gain victory today.
It is worth taking into account the mixed form of the west London-based outfit. Without a win in their last two top-flight games, Brentford may look for a statement result against United, which in turn may lead to them committed bodies forward.
Should this be the case, Rangnick’s team would be able to enjoy plenty of freedom outside of the congested midfield scrap. With Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw able to bomb on from full back, there will be opportunities to create regular overloads.
A quick diagonal in behind the hosts’ backline may also be a simple way of bypassing their game plan. There, the likes of Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga would be able to carve out openings for whoever plays at No 9.
There will be space out wide at Brentford, and the likes of Anthony Elanga could flourish there
WHAT DO BRENTFORD DO WELL AT HOME?
Arsenal travelled to the newcomers’ home ground for their opening game of the season, and quickly found themselves reeling from a 2-0 defeat. Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard were both on target, sparking a raucous, jubilant atmosphere.
Liverpool were also held to a 3-3 draw earlier this season, while City and Chelsea were left breathing a sigh of relief after escaping with narrow victories. Tonight, United will expect a similarly stern test in their bid to bring an end to the misery.
Frank has been able to instil a feeling of belief at the club, from his players and coaching staff to the passionate supporters packed into the stands. Using this, they are no strangers to chasing fairytales, and United would be another scalp.
Brentford are also adept at frustrating their opponents, due to their ability to keep their team tight and compact across the pitch. They are not afraid to launch the ball long to beat a press, a move which has been effective this year.
United will be rocking from their collapse at Villa, and if they are not careful, their nightmare campaign will take another unwelcome twist.
Brentford stunned Arsenal earlier this season and have picked up other memorable results
