KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Rangnick must go for a back five and stifle City

KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Ralf Rangnick must go for a back five and stifle Man City’s attackers… but what United do with the ball is the key in Sunday’s derby

  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a respectable record against Pep Guardiola 
  • Solskjaer regularly turned to a back five with a focus on breaking at pace 
  • United beat City with a low block in 2020 but failed with same tactic a year later
  • A back five may be the only way to go if they want a result at the Etihad Stadium
  • Ralf Rangnick has had the rare luxury of a full week to prepare for Sunday’s game

Pep Guardiola this week listed the five Premier League teams who dare to go head to head with Manchester City rather than sitting on the edge of their own box.

They are Liverpool, Brighton, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Leeds. Notably, he did not mention neighbours Manchester United, who had a respectable record against City under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, winning four of nine games against Guardiola.

Solskjaer regularly turned to a back five — three centre backs and two wing-backs — with a focus on breaking at pace to try to get the better of City.

Man United boss Ralf Rangnick has had the rare luxury of a full week to prepare for the derby

With just 27.7 per cent possession in March 2020, United beat City with a low block. In November 2021, that same approach failed as Solskjaer lost his penultimate game as United manager with only 32.6 per cent possession.

Ralf Rangnick has now had a full week to prepare for this derby — a rarity in modern-day football — and it is a real possibility that United will switch to a back five tomorrow.

In fact, it may be the only way to go if they want a result at the Etihad Stadium.

Rangnick has used three different centre-back pairings in United’s last three matches: Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof against Leeds, Maguire and Raphael Varane against Atletico Madrid, and Lindelof and Varane against Watford.

Manchester United have has used three different centre-back pairings in their last three games

He clearly isn’t sure of his best partnership.

To see out the win at Elland Road with United leading 3-2, Rangnick replaced Cristiano Ronaldo with Varane and turned to a back five. United ended up hitting Leeds on the break to score a fourth and win the match 4-2.

With City dominating possession more than any other side in the Premier League since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016, United will look to sit deep and draw their opponents on.

They can then try to counter at high speed using Bruno Fernandes and others to hit early balls into the space vacated by City’s raiding full backs.

It is a big decision for Rangnick. He has spent the last two months trying to educate his players on his favoured 4-2-3-1 system and choosing when to press, so it’s a huge call to change the set-up for this trip to City.

Former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had a respectable record against Pep Guardiola

But Guardiola’s side have encountered difficulties when faced with a back five recently. Tottenham beat City 3-2 using that system — a result which opened up the Premier League title race — and Championship strugglers Peterborough put up a good fight in the FA Cup in midweek, making City wait until the 60th minute for their first shot on target.

This game is just as big for City as it is United. After winning 12 on the bounce and earning a nice cushion at the top of the table, a draw with Southampton and that loss to Tottenham has seen their lead whittled down to six points.

Closest rivals Liverpool also have a game in hand, and they travel to City in April.

Guardiola knows his side can’t afford any more slip-ups. Rangnick, after disappointing draws with Burnley, Southampton and Watford, must realise the importance of United getting a result in this game.

A win would do wonders for United’s confidence in their top-four pursuit. There is so much riding on this match for both clubs.




Share this article


Source: Read Full Article