Wastefulness. A word becoming increasingly synonymous with Manchester United. Maybe, as silver lining, it could be considered a marker of progress in that more chances are being created to waste. However, the sub-par execution is becoming a massive problem in its own right. It is costly. Very costly.
Ralf Rangnick named about as strong a side as he possibly could have done as his team took on Chris Wilder’s reinvigorated Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night, with the German by no means displaying complacency. Allowing his side to take their feet off the gas was not an option.
It took only moments for United to come close to taking the lead, with goalkeeper Joe Lumley in a mix-up with defender Dale Fry after a lofted ball from Luke Shaw; the ball came out to the similarly returning Jadon Sancho, with his chip above the out of position Lumley striking the crossbar. Bruno Fernandes had an opportunity on the rebound, but was unable to get a good enough contact on the ball.
Rangnick's men were relentlessly forward-thinking in their approach, with Middlesbrough conversely nervous on their first visit to Old Trafford since New Years' Eve in 2016.
On the front foot, United were intent on capitalising on their opponent's lack of adaptation. The early signs were massively positive from the home side, with plenty of indications of fast-paced, high volume buildup from United who were, overall, operating at an intensity much nearer that desired by Rangnick. Moreover, the hosts were inventive from the outset, shifting the ball effectively throughout the final third.
Predominantly, United were working the ball well in the wide areas. Sancho, having come close in the opening minutes, was embodiment of his side's inventiveness. Shaw played one cross into Cristiano Ronaldo, who couldn't resist attempting an overhead kick, getting a good connection but hardly testing Lumley.
On the whole, there wasn't a hint of complacency from United, authoritative and purposeful against a Middlesbrough side which begun to engage in the contest. Despite the visitors' best efforts, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire were offering a staunch guard for a quiet Dean Henderson, deputising for the rested David de Gea.
United's creative intent was proving overpoweringly superior, with structured buildup enabling creation of a fair few opportunities to make a mark on the tie. However, chances were starting to go begging - an issue which was compounded by and grew from Ronaldo firing a penalty wide just shy of the halfway mark of the opening period.
The buildup to the spot kick was worthy of a goal in itself, with the returning Paul Pogba linking with Fernandes in the process, with an incisive ball into the box from Shaw later resulting in Pogba being taken down by Anfernee Dijksteel. The movement on display from the United midfielder was intelligent, getting wrong side of the defender to win the foul.
Pogba was the centrepoint of much of United's early avail, starting for the first time in over three months for his first appearance under Rangnick. The Frenchman was efficiently reintegrating into a system drastically different to that which he had last experienced under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, though one which he had previously thrived in. His impact in the middle of the park was a vitally influential contributor to United's front-footed stance. He was an important hub in midfield, supporting Scott McTominay slightly deeper and Fernandes in the more progressive role. He was really up for it too, matching the required energy levels and more.
Soon after Ronaldo's uncharacteristically miscued penalty, his compatriot Fernandes blazed over the crossbar on the volley having found himself free and through on goal. Barely a quarter of the way into proceedings, it could, and should, have been at least three for United. The game could have been out of sight before it had even begun.
United did, though, keep plugging away, and a go-ahead goal came relatively promptly after the penalty miss and Fernandes' misfortune. The move stemmed from Pogba's endeavour and initiative to intercept into Fernandes' path, with a lofted through ball played through to Sancho - played onside by United academy graduate Paddy McNair. Sancho made a well-timed run off Isaiah Jones, off whom the ball deflected to guide the left-footed effort across Lumley.
Sancho was rewarded for a bright start with his goal, scoring for the first time at Old Trafford on his FA Cup debut.
United kept surging in subsequence, mustering openings but to no further avail. The lead was deserved, but there were chances and shots aplenty which should have seen United veering off into the distance even before the half hour mark.
Off the back of his penalty miss, Ronaldo was misfiring - the epitome of the elusiveness of United's end product. The chances were there and United were working as well as they had done as a collective unit, but, if one of the greatest finishers of all time couldn't convert, then who could?
Marcus Rashford seemed the answer for a split second - a blunder from Lumley saw the reenergised United attacker find the net. However, a split second was all the ecstasy lasted for, with Rashford in an offside position as Fernandes smuggled the ball through. It was a great relief for the visiting goalkeeper.
You'd be right to categorise United's attacking prowess as lethal at times, with an air of sharpness and fluidity about the home side's buildup. Rangnick's side were resolute, alert and innovative in their approach, culminating in one of the strongest - likely the strongest - half under his reign. Middlesbrough were being killed by the pace of United's pace of interplay, especially on the break. However, the Yorkshire outfit somehow remained in the game as the break loomed.
Somehow, it remained a contest at the pause. United managed 14 shots through the first half (the majority inside the box by contrast to against West Ham), creating three chances but only converting on one occasion. Rangnick saw his side ahead having dominated, but it could have been a rampage on the goals front. It wasn't, though, and the game remained there for the taking for either side.
The first half had been host to some of United's purest football under Rangnick, though the sheer number of squandered chances - often genuinely clear cut - cost them a lead that would have been unrecoverable for Middlesbrough.
After the juncture, United remained continually refined in buildup. Sancho, often combining with Shaw down the left hand side, was still a key asset, providing what should've been a second United goal, only for Rashford to hit over from close range.
Balls and runs in behind were terrorising Middlesbrough, with one particular Rashford run - a sign of his reinstalled belief - picked out by Fernandes from deep. Again, though, Ronaldo was culprit of missing a big opportunity, only finding the side netting with a powerful strike.
Something that had been elusive in recent times was an imbalance on the flanks. However, aided by Diogo Dalot's growth into the team, both the right and left sides were displaying quality in equilibrium. United's attacking onslaughts placed Middlesbrough under such a mass of pressure that even a two-goal lead would have killed the tie. No matter, it was not happening for United in front of goal.
Middlesbrough were gaining belief from United's wastefulness, with Jones a growing threat on the right. Boyhood United fan Matt Crooks offered Henderson's first real test of the encounter, with the goalkeeper alert to the attempt after a quiet opening period, saving acrobatically on the stretch. The aforementioned were the two real threats within the visiting outfit, giving United storms to weather.
United continued to probe but Middlesbrough were growing more and more threatening on the break. Rashford snatched at one attempt, with the away side able to play out from the back and counter down the right hand side a man over on United with Jones. The wide man found substitute Duncan Watmore on the opposite flank in a space left vacant by Varane and Dalot, with the forward playing above Henderson to the onrushing Crooks to slot into an open net.
It was not without controversy. In fact, there was almost resignation and adamance around Old Trafford that the goal would be disallowed. It seemed blatant that Watmore had, accidentally, used his hand to aid his control of Jones' ball. Accidental was ultimately the watchword.
Even though Watmore's hand was in an unnatural position, abiding by the rules, it wasn't an unlawful offence as the handball offence was not committed by the goalscorer. The significance of the contact with the player's hand was essentially an irrelevance.
There was bafflement around Old Trafford as the VAR review deemed the goal legal. United could rightly feel hard done by - not through poor officiating, but through bizarre, unnecessary new rules.
"I thought straight away it was handball," said Middlesbrough boss Wilder. "I thought it would be chalked out and was delighted it wasn't."
Rangnick argued, "How can it be accidental if he controls the ball up in the air with his hand? It was clear it should not stand but in the end I was really surprised it stood."
Ultimately, ignoring the controversy, United had fallen behind to a defensive lapse to allow Middlesbrough to break and enable far too much space for Watmore to operate in inside the penalty area. "We were not well positioned in that moment," Rangnick said. "We were too open and allowed them to counter."
Not to say United had been complacent, but there almost seemed an air of acceptance that a second goal would come. Wayward execution of an abundance of opportunities through generally poor finishing saw United punished with the controversial concession. It was controversial, no doubt, but it was United's own doing that Middlesbrough were even in the match and able to level affairs.
It became apparent that Wilder's side were playing with a 'nothing to lose' attitude given United's widespread dominance, with Middlesbrough attacking the game and reaping their rewards. The game had turned frantic, with United persistently loose amidst the likes of Andraz Sporar growing into nuisances. Desire had been reignited within the visiting ranks.
Despite their continued inability to convert, United were still bright in most aspects. The concession had hardly hindered the level of creation on display prior. Moments after Rashford was again denied, United's intent was shown through Ronaldo pressing Lumley from the front; the goalkeeper was forced into playing an underhit pass, with Fernandes snatching the ball from Jonny Howson yet mystifyingly striking the post despite having half a goal to aim at. He had essentially missed an open net, epitomising United's sole struggle. Finishing. However big the chance.
It seemed Ronaldo had never quite recovered from his missed penalty, almost stumbling over his feet at times. Chance upon chance was missed. It was not a day to write home about.
It became apparent United were in need of attacking alterations, additions who may add the required attacking edge. However, the squad was depleted in terms of attacking options.
Both Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani were absent despite no injuries. Speaking about the former, Rangnick insisted, "We were one outfield player less on the teamsheet, so why would I have allowed him to have four or five days off? I would have loved to have had him in the squad, but it was not the case."
The comments come after Lingard claimed the club granted him time off to 'clear his mind', with reports suggesting football director John Murtough spoke to Lingard and suggested he take more time off. So, Rangnick wanted him to play, but the director of football said he could have a break.
The same principle can be applied for Cavani too, who has stayed in Uruguay for slightly longer - not for the first time. You can’t pick and choose when you play, which is appearing the case.
A double switch did come late in regulation time. As it was, Anthony Elanga was the only option as an attacker, replacing Rashford around the 82 minute mark. At the same time, Fred was introduced in place of Pogba - never going to last the full duration - despite undoubtedly suffering after-effects of jet lag. That commitment can't be said for some.
A tiring Middlesbrough continued to stand firm, with two late Elanga headers going begging. Extra time was somehow in the offing despite the divisional mismatch.
The same issues riddled throughout the opening 90 minutes carried the same prevalence through the extra period even though United were still positive in their buildup. Their fitness was superior, though both sides were noticeably fatiguing nevertheless.
Phil Jones replaced Varane at full time, acting as embodiment of United's front-footedness with a number of surges forward. Sancho also made way soon after, cited as fatigue as with Varane, with Juan Mata given a rare outing.
Ronaldo continued to miscue as United remained profligate, with attacks breaking down earlier and earlier as the level dropped into the depths of extra time. The hosts held 80% of the ball through the extra period, yet it was Middlesbrough who engineered the only categorical 'big chance' throughout the half-hour.
Overall, United's issues could be attributed to the players and players only. It had been the best, most enthralling performance under Rangnick on the whole, with rife wastefulness resulting in an unnecessarily competitive contest. It could, and should, have been a rout for United. Ultimately, they had to settle for a shootout. A lottery.
The first miniature victory came as the spot kicks were to be taken before the Stretford End, with the penalties confident enough but goalkeeping often dubious. Middlesbrough looked the more assured taking first, though Henderson allowed one timid early effort to wriggle beneath him.
United held their nerve and matched their opposite numbers through sudden death up until seven-a-piece, with Lee Peltier converting Middlesbrough's eighth. Up stepped Elanga. Pressure that he had never felt before. Over.
Middlesbrough had done it against the odds, and the stats. The whole contingent wheeled away to the 9,500 travelling fans.
The onus was not on Rangnick, nor Elanga. The Swede has shown such character since entering the first team picture, and that can’t be forgotten due to one penalty miss. It was by far the most pressurising situation of his career to date, so he cannot be berated in the slightest. Nobody can for a miss in a shootout.
Ronaldo’s words of encouragement will have been of consolation, offering a display of the positive impact he should be having. That is the experience he has to be using, something of a virtue even when things aren't going well on the pitch.
To be frank, it was more than a sub-par showing from the Portuguese great, and the United attack as a whole in front of goal. United managed 71% possession, 30 shots, created 25 chances and seven big chances, yet only scored once and lost. Lost via their seventh penalty shootout defeat in their last eight attempts.
In Rangnick's words, "It was our own fault, we should have killed off the game in the first half. We hit the crossbar, post, and missed a penalty and numerous chances. It should have been 2-0 or 3-0."
"We have to blame ourselves."
It had been another display of promise, but chances came and went like buses in a city centre. Against lower league opposition, any defeat is demoralising and unforgivable. However, the performance was an indicator that it should never have got to the stage where defeat was an option. Silver lining, in a way.
It cannot be stressed how important silverware is to Manchester United. Five years it will have been. That trophy was the Europa League. Not a 'major' trophy, even. The FA Cup was the big opportunity this season - that’s gone now. It’s Champions League or nothing. The odds are against Rangnick and his team. Considerably.
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