“It has been an average season so far, there’s no avoiding that. Right now, I am here because development is what needs to happen again. Nobody at the club is happy to be where we are in the Premier League table.”
"If you want to win a football match, you have to control it, so the aim right now is to help the team control games more. That means being more proactive with and without the ball. It is important to start winning games regularly in the short-term then step by step, build the team in the right direction beyond that. We want to train the players' brains and encourage them to do the right things until they become second nature."
Two weeks on from the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it's finally time for interim manager Ralf Rangnick to take charge of United for the first time. No doubt, there is lots of work to do - the German acknowledges that. Concession to Arsenal three days ago marked the first time they have conceded in 15 consecutive home games since 1959, however Michael Carrick managed to sustain an unbeaten record during the three matches in which he took caretaker charge. With Rangnick looking on from the stands for the first time, victory against Arsenal in an enthralling encounter on Thursday night set United in good stead heading into this new era. As the new man makes charge, the reds sit seventh in the league.
Talking of managerial takeovers, Patrick Vieira replaced Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace in the summer after a 14th place finish last term. In fairness, the legendary former France midfielder has started life as a Premier League manager in admirable fashion. Currently 11th in the standings, Palace are currently only five points behind United. However, the Eagles have only won three times in the league, inferior to their four defeats. Vieira has guided his side to seven draws thus far, which has contributed immensely to their current position. Two of the London side's draws have come against fellow-Londoners West Ham United and Arsenal, whilst they have beaten Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Palace are currently enduring a two match losing run, following on from seven games without defeat. Their away form has been sufficient over the course of the season, with defeat to Leeds United on Tuesday night their first away loss in four matches. Furthermore, Leeds' shutout marked the time Vieira's side had failed to score in nine matches.
Palace will certainly be bidding to put a halt to United's bid for back-to-back wins for the first time since Cristiano Ronaldo's return to the club in September. The London outfit enjoy making the trip north to Manchester, as evidenced by their 2-0 win at the Etihad in late October. Palace have taken points from United on their last three trips to Old Trafford, inflicting defeat on the home side in each of the past two seasons. On top of an opening match 3-1 defeat last campaign, Palace held United to a goalless draw at Selhurst Park; the Eagles have now taken seven points from their past four league meetings with United, as many as they’d managed in their previous 23 encounters.
Despite seeming to sustain a knock against Arsenal - causing him to be substituted - Ronaldo was with the United squad at the team hotel. Having missed out in midweek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Nemanja Matic also rejoined the squad. Conversely, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial were not with the group. Luke Shaw is still recovering from a lengthy concussion so is still missing, whilst Edinson Cavani remains sidelined. Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba are both still absent.
Comments