Ralf Rangnick was accustomed to a winter break before he came to England. In unwanted fashion, he has had one in his first few weeks at Old Trafford - when Manchester United visit Newcastle on Monday, it will be their first game for 16 days.
Rewind a month and a 16-day spell covered the thrashing by Watford, the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick’s eventful caretaker reign - complete with dropping first Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo - Carrick’s departure from the club, Rangnick’s appointment and his debut win.
Now, with Covid causing the postponements of the Brentford and Brighton fixtures, United have been out of action. It means Rangnick has a second chance to kickstart the new regime. His first three games offered some encouragement but felt inconclusive: there were positives to be derived from the victory over Crystal Palace and the switch to 4-2-2-2, fewer from a weakened team’s subsequent draw with Young Boys of Bern and the underwhelming win at Norwich.
But Rangnick is unbeaten. United have kept as many clean sheets this season under him as under Solskjaer. They have a run of games that offer a chance to bounce back into the top four. And, after they ran out of fit footballers, their interim manager has the luxury of choice now.
United were down to eight outfield players and three goalkeepers at one stage. While everyone except Paul Pogba is available again, selection could be determined by how much some have recovered from coronavirus, though Rangnick reported most only had weak symptoms.
But Edinson Cavani and Raphael Varane are back in contention. Cavani has been marginalised since Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival but combined brilliantly with his fellow veteran when Solskjaer played a strike duo and got United’s best result of the season, the 3-0 win at Tottenham. Now Rangnick has a system that includes two centre-forwards. It could suit the Uruguayan while Anthony Martial’s wish for a January move makes him less likely to play.
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NORWICH RATINGS: Tim Krul – 7 The Dutchman made a series of crucial saves. He provided a hand on Alex Telles’ free-kick to tip it over the crossbar, comfortably saved a low shot by Dalot and then kept Ronaldo out. He also tipped over a great dipping header by Maguire at the last second just before the break. Went the wrong way for the penalty. PA -
Max Aarons – 7 Made a great interception in the first half followed by a darting run into the centre of the park. He made a great tackle to force a potential ball from Rashford out for a corner but was later punished for handling Ronaldo in the box, who went to ground. Getty Images -
Grant Hanley – N/R, Forced into early action to clear United’s attack but then had to retire early after colliding with Ronaldo and seemingly dislocating his shoulder. Getty Images -
Ozan Kabak – 8 Returned to the backline and looked accomplished beyond his 21 years. He made a great block as United added pressure in the box with a cross by Sancho, and then tracked back to deny Rashford, though the striker was deemed offside. Forced De Gea into making two world-class saves. PA -
Dimitris Giannoulis – 7 With Brandon Williams unable to play against his parent club, the Greek left-back returned to the line-up and looked a man on a mission to keep a starting place with a bright start both attacking and defensively. Getty Images -
Billy Gilmour – 6 Held his own in the midfield for large parts while playing in a deeper position. Improved as the game went on. Had two shots within seconds of each other when the ball rebounded to him, and he narrowly missed out on getting his first for the club in the final 10 minutes. AP Photo -
Lukas Rupp – 7 Was all over the pitch. Made several good runs into the box and always looked to be eyeing up decent positions. Also teed up several opportunities for Pukki. Getty Images -
Kenny McLean – 6 The Scotsman worked hard with Rupp to control play and ensure United didn’t have long on the ball. Reuters -
Josh Sargent – 6 Delivered a great ball which curved into the path of Pukki just before half-time, though United were able to intervene. Looked low in confidence, though. The American had a great chance to shoot following United’s goal, but decided to pull back the ball rather than have a dig himself. Getty Images -
Przemyslaw Placheta – 6 The Polish winger made his full Premier League debut in his first start for the club since February following months out suffering with Covid-19. He showed glimpses of promise after so long out, culminating in a neat one-two and shot just after the break. PA -
Teemu Pukki – 6 Forced a crucial block from McTominay early on as he eyed a cross in the box after having latched onto a great ball and split United’s defence. Later on, he couldn’t quite get his feet right when Rupp flicked a ball into his path, before then forcing a top save from De Gea. Getty Images -
SUB: Jacob Sorensen (Hanley 21’) – 7 The versatile 23-year-old has seen game-time limited since his arrival and he’d only played nine minutes in the Premier League before his introduction at centre-back. Showed a great first touch to hook the ball away from Rashford and spark an attack. AP Photo -
SUB: Todd Cantwell (Placheta 70’) – N/R Didn’t really have much of an impact after coming on. Getty Images -
SUB: Pierre Lees-Melou (Rupp 76’) – N/R Found himself straight in the action after his substitution but didn’t have his shooting boots on to level things up. Booked. Reuters -
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 8. Comfortable in the first half. Saved from Pukki on 56 mins as Norwich had their best spell with five corners in as many minutes. Magnificent save on 76 from a header and then again on 90 at the back post, both from Kabak. Getty Images -
Diogo Dalot – 6. Hit and miss in the first half. Weak shot after 31, but the fact he was in Norwich’s area showed how advanced he was. Covered well for a 39th minute Norwich attack. Booked after 76. Blocked a Gilmour shot on 82. PA -
Harry Maguire – 6. Did well to get his head to a Sancho cross just before half time. Turned by Placheta at start of second half as Norwich went aggressive against United and stopped the pressing game seen against Palace. Outjumped by Kabak for Norwich’s closest effort on goal. PA -
Victor Lindelof – 6. Struggled for Norwich’s best first half chance, but otherwise untroubled. Went off with 20 minutes to play after going down without any contact. Reuters -
Alex Telles – 7. Starting four league games for the first time. Awful pass back towards Maguire after 8 mins. His free-kick deflected on the cross bar after 14. Won ball off Aarons to start an 85th minute United attack which ended with Ronaldo shooting over in the heavy rain. Reuters -
Scott McTominay – 7. Blocked an early Norwich attack. Set up Ronaldo on 37. Lucky not to get a fifth successive yellow card on 43. Crossed for Ronaldo, which led to United’s penalty. Getty Images -
Fred – 7. Smart ball to McTominay to feed Ronaldo on 37. Passed well through the lines in the narrow 4-2-2-2 formation. It wasn’t impressive, but United got another win and another clean sheet. Getty Images -
Jadon Sancho – 6. Super cross to Maguire on 45. Some sparks when he got the ball, but, as with the other attackers, too little and too far from the Norwich goal. AFP -
Bruno Fernandes – 5. Had more touches than anyone early one, but too far from goal to be effective and gave the ball away more than anyone. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo – 6. Swung at the ball and couldn’t connect after 15. Better chance on 37 but he paused on his shot. Sent Krul the wrong way to score a penalty, his seventh goal in eight away starts this season. Shot a Rashford cross over on 85. PA -
Marcus Rashford – 5. Won a soft early free-kick then complained that he was pulled back when he didn’t get one. Lively but no end product in first half and he lost possession too many times. Zipped a low shot wide on 61. Best move was in 85th minute when he crossed for Ronaldo. Reuters -
SUB: Mason Greenwood – 6. On for Sancho after 67. Ran the ball away from his area on 81 as Norwich tried to equalise. Running helped. Getty Images -
SUB: Eric Bailly – 5. On for Lindelof. Beaten by Sargent as Norwich tried to equalise but recovered to win the ball back. Blocked a Gilmour double shot on 82. Getty Images -
SUB: Donny van de Beek – NA. On for Fernandes after 88. Gave free-kick away in dangerous position on 90. PA
Both United’s defensive and winning records are better with Varane, who was sidelined for the shambolic showings against Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford. Harry Maguire’s form has been wretched this season and while the captain was an automatic choice for Solskjaer, it will be intriguing if Rangnick instead pairs Varane with Victor Lindelof.
As Solskjaer’s reign unravelled and as United’s defending got worse, the Norwegian nevertheless seemed even more convinced about his preferred back four. For different reasons, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are yet to feature in the league under Rangnick. Now it may be clear if Solskjaer’s first-choice full-backs assume the same status in the new regime. Certainly Wan-Bissaka’s limitations on the ball mean he is far from a perfect fit for Rangnick, who wants attacking full-backs. Diogo Dalot may be preferred again.
Time on the training ground may have assumed an importance. A mid-season appointment of a manager like Rangnick poses challenges about implementing a pressing game. United showed more aptitude to win the ball back higher up the pitch against Palace – even Ronaldo, often a passenger off the ball, made 11 attempts to press – but they were then lacklustre at Norwich. Perhaps their efforts will be coordinated and quicker now.
There is also a question if players will be better attuned to new roles; in particular those as the two No. 10s, but with wider duties as well. Bruno Fernandes gave the ball away 27 times at Carrow Road.
Jadon Sancho, who had been one of the beneficiaries of Solskjaer’s departure, disappointed then and was taken off. That United’s league goals under Rangnick are a freakish long-range strike by Fred and a Ronaldo penalty shows they have to find a way to score.
Newcastle ought to offer an ideal opportunity, as well as a comparison. Their last three games were against Leicester, Liverpool and City and they conceded 11 goals. Rewind to September and Solskjaer’s United got four, Ronaldo scoring twice on his second debut for the club. It proved a false dawn for the Norwegian, who only won two more league games.
It was a deceptive day, suggesting it was easy to accommodate all United’s attacking talents to devastating effect. Then Solskjaer’s United hinted they may be title challengers. Now Rangnick’s team have the lesser target of clambering back into the top four.
