Thanks to a cross from Fred, Ralf Rangnick can celebrate a successful debut as interim coach of the Red Devils. But the working victory also showed that there is still a lot of work ahead of the innovator.
The home side, who made no changes to their starting eleven on Ralf Rangnick’s debut after the 3-2 home win over Arsenal last week, piled on the pressure from the start. Again and again the Red Devils ran the visitors, who had changed Patrick Viera in two positions (Benteke for Edouard; Clyne for Ward) compared to the 0-1 defeat at Leeds, high and won the ball in the opponent’s half. Despite this, however, United initially lacked any really clear-cut finishes. Telles (3.) and Bruno Fernandes (26.) were the first to score from distance, while Ronaldo (23.), Sancho (33.) and Diogo Dalot (45.+1) lacked the necessary precision inside the penalty area.
Manship recognisable – but initially unsuccessful
Never the less, the signature of the “Godfather of Counterpressing”, as the Telegraph dubbed Rangnick in the wake of his signing, was clearly visible: The intensity of the Red Devils was higher than during the last performances under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in which the team seemed uninspired, unimaginative and anaemic at times. The only thing that did not follow the effort in the first half was the return. However, with the exception of Zaha (9th), the Eagles were also unable to conjure up any goalscoring threat and the game went into the dressing rooms goalless.
United’s relapse into lack of ideas
After the restart, it was again the home side who started the game more energetically, but they were unable to generate anything like the high pressure of the opening minutes of the first half. United consequently had more of the play, but failed to convert it into chances on goal. The second half was tough for long stretches, in which Manchester increasingly reminded of the performances of the past weeks. The best chance for a long time came from Telles, who surprised Guaita with a free kick from an acute angle and hit the crossbar (68th).
Fred redeems Rangnick
Fifteen minutes before the end, the visitors had a chance to take the lead out of nowhere, but Ayew missed it (75th), before the Red Devils scored the redemptive goal just two minutes later: Fred put the ball in the net with a wonderful flick with his weaker right foot (77th). In the closing minutes Vieira tried to avert defeat by making offensive changes, but even the visitors’ jokers failed to seriously threaten de Gea’s box.
Thus, it remained a laborious but deserved victory for ManUnited, who will be challenged in the Champions League next Wednesday against Young Boys Bern at 9pm. Palace continue their Premier League campaign next Sunday when they host Everton FC at home.
