For many, the most damning comment came from Luke Shaw. “I didn’t think we were all together,” he said after defeat to Wolves. It is not the first time of late that unity has seemed elusive for Manchester United. Perhaps, however, there was a worse part still for the ‘godfather of gegenpressing.’ Ralf Rangnick, who has been defined by that philosophy, said: “We didn’t press at all.”
United were lacklustre, missing the energy Rangnick wants. But they also missed a cogent game plan; a half-time switch to 3-4-3 illustrated that 4-2-2-2 failed. The German’s references to the “overload” Wolves had in midfield underlined the way his first loss was a tactical triumph for Bruno Lage.
Wolves, Rangnick said, were the best team he has faced at United. The others are Young Boys of Bern, currently 44th in the Uefa coefficients, Crystal Palace, and the Premier League’s bottom three. And of them, Newcastle were definitely better than United. Norwich arguably were. But for such a kind fixture list, defeat would surely have come sooner. As it is, United have conceded more shots than they have attempted in five league matches.
Rangnick’s reign has been underwhelming so far. United have played reasonably well twice, against Palace and Burnley. Trying to bolt pressing principles on to a mismatched collection of individuals has proved no simple task. “I knew it would be a difficult job,” Rangnick said.
Covid and the temporary closure of their Carrington training ground rendered it harder, but six games have proved that United’s problems did not disappear with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Nor is all the fault Rangnick’s: their players can make them look unmanageable, a team trapped in a cycle of underachievement, forever less than the sum of their expensive parts.
And yet comparisons can be drawn with two of Rangnick’s fellow gegenpressers, showing each was quicker to impart his ideas and have an impact. Jurgen Klopp’s fifth match with Liverpool was the stunning 3-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the day he unveiled his plan of using Roberto Firmino as the false nine. Thomas Tuchel devised the system that won Chelsea the Champions League, 3-4-2-1, before his debut.
Meanwhile, United have struggled to create in Rangnick’s preferred 4-2-2-2 formation. Bruno Fernandes has looked a square peg in a round hole as one of the wider No 10s; it feels as though he can only play in a central role. United were at their brightest against Burnley when the Portuguese was suspended. It is a shape that, in theory, could suit Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood.
Manchester United 0 Wolves 1: player ratings
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MAN UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea 7. Needed to be on it and got his fingers to a Neves shot on 12 minutes. Saved again from the excellent Podence on 24 mins – Wolves' ninth goal attempt in the first 25 minutes. That trend continued and in the end a Wolves team who struggle to score won at Old Trafford for the first time in 40 years. Could do little about goal. EPA -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5. Marcal pushed up against him, but did well to get past him and sent a cross towards Ronaldo on 19 minutes – and again on 27. Problem was the crosses were too high. Regressed in the second half. Getty Images -
Phil Jones 7. First game since January 2020. Big cheer when he cleared the ball in the first minute and again with a block after 10. Excellent in first half, made a couple of errors in the second as United shifted to three central defenders. His header went to Moutinho who scored. United’s best player. Getty Images -
Raphael Varane 7. Busy first half with Wolves the better side. Did little wrong in a side low on confidence. The issue was more with those in front of him. Getty Images -
Luke Shaw 6. Difficult task against Semedo. Guilty of giving the ball away - like the rest of his teammates. Switched to be back three in second half and did well several times, such as against Jimenez to stop 64th minute attack. Beaten for the cross for the goal. Gave ball away too much. Getty Images -
Scott McTominay 5. Only United player to start last 10 league games, but lost possession too many times in the first half. Booked. Again. Good run at goal on 70 minutes; too deep for the Wolves goal. Outclassed by his opposites. United’s midfield is a major issue. Getty Images -
Nemanja Matic 5. United’s slow midfield again overran. Set up Fernandes who hit the crossbar. Took a foul for the team bringing down Traore and was booked for it. A high boot into his head saw a 95th minute free-kick awarded. Reuters -
Jadon Sancho 4. Went alone in a sixth minute attack when Ronaldo was free to his left, but limited influence in the first half. Another who gave the ball away too much. United need much more from him. Reuters -
Mason Greenwood 7. Sublime ball forward to Sancho after six minutes and good on the ball in the first half. Hit a shot well over on 50 minutes. Best when winning the ball deep and playing passes forward. The decision to bring him off was booed. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Stand in captain. Tried to head the ball back to De Gea on 34 minutes and got it wrong. Put ball in the net but offside. Walked off the pitch full of frustration. Same old. Getty Images -
Edinson Cavani 5. Wild shot on 42 minutes when he was under no pressure. Came too deep too often. Disappointing. AP Photo -
SUB: Bruno Fernandes 7. Rare for him to start on the bench, but his form has been poor. Hit the bar on 67 minutes when he should have scored. Brightened the game up. Excellent free-kick saved in time added on Getty Images -
SUB: Marcus Rashford 6. On for Sancho after 75. Been out of form. Almost scored. AFP -
SUB: Anthony Elanga NA On for Wan Bissaka on 83. Youngster given a chance. EPA -
WOLVES RATINGS: Jose Sa 7 - Commanded his box well and anticipated the majority of balls coming in from out wide, but he didn’t really have much to do until a Bruno Fernandes freekick in the final minute of added time. AFP -
Romain Saiss 7 - The defender came close to opening the scoring with a freekick that whipped onto the crossbar. Kept things simple at the back without a need for committing himself mindlessly. Reuters -
Conor Coady 7 - The Wolves captain organised his backline well and they were faultless for the most part on Monday evening. Bruno Fernandes struck the bar at one point as the Wolves defence allowed a man to get spare, but that was an anomaly on an otherwise impressive display, with Coady at the heart of it. Getty Images -
Max Kilman 7 - Got across well to prevent Scott McTominay who was running into the box at pace. The 24-year-old was neat in possession of the ball all game, rarely putting a foot wrong. AFP -
Marcal 7 - Provided a diagonal option on the left flank and was able to work some crossing opportunities, with Jimenez narrowly missing a proper connection on one in the 76th minute. Getty Images -
Joao Moutinho 9 - An expertly taken strike from outside the box proved to be the winner for Wolves, and the 35-year-old deserved it after battling tirelessly in midfield all game, often winning possession back with strong tackles. Getty Images -
Ruben Neves 8 - Always a threat on the ball and came close with a spectacular volley from way outside the box. Looked very comfortable alongside Moutinho, with the Portuguese pair controlling the tempo of the game. Getty Images -
Nelson Semedo 8 - As bright going forward as he was on the defensive side of his game. Semedo was tasked with dealing with the threat of Jadon Sancho, and he got the better of him on the night while linking up well with players further forward. Getty Images -
Daniel Podence 9 - Frequently probed the Manchester United defence and was fearless running at defenders. The Old Trafford crowd knew that every time Podence had the ball, something was likely to happen. Getty Images -
Raul Jimenez 6 - Worked hard and held the ball well up in moments but there were a few occasions where Jimenez gave away the ball needlessly with passes that weren’t near their intended target. Getty Images -
Trincao 7 - Looked to play positively to carve through the defence and created some promising moments for Wolves before he was replaced for Traore. Getty Images -
SUB: Adama Traore (Trincao, 66) 6 - Manchester United defenders could only foul him as he broke a way on the counter, with Traore constantly looking to carry the ball deep into enemy territory. As ever with Traore, he looked dangerous on the ball, but his final pass could have been better. AP Photo -
SUB: Fabio SIlva (Jimenez 81) N/R - Ran the channels well and worked hard to try and keep Wolves on the front foot. Getty Images -
SUB: Leander Dendoncker (Podence 88) N/R - On to tighten up the game for Podence in the final minutes. Getty Images
However, Rashford has been unimpressive for Rangnick. Greenwood has been the first player replaced against both Newcastle and Wolves when he seemed United’s best attacker. As with Rangnick’s needless call to scrap the League Cup — a competition his United are not even in — his judgment could be questioned.
Rangnick has confounded predictions he would drop Cristiano Ronaldo, even making the veteran stand-in skipper against Wolves. But if United’s lack of pressing reflects in part on Ronaldo, the most prolific goalscorer ever has been less potent under Rangnick. He has scored two goals, one a penalty, in five outings under the German, compared to three in three for Michael Carrick and nine in 12 for Solskjaer. Thus far, he and Rangnick look an imperfect fit.
The paradox of a midfield that can look a wasteland — which is part of Solskjaer’s legacy — and who were outclassed by Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho is that Fred and Scott McTominay have scored the two best league goals of the interim manager’s tenure. But perhaps that is another sign of how things are not going to plan for United or Rangnick.
