Five days. Five days was all there was between Manchester United and Aston Villa's meetings in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively. On Monday night, it was United who came out on top by a slender margin, winning by a goal-to-nil at Old Trafford despite an underwhelming showing. Villa would be hoping to reverse their fortunes on their own turf come Saturday evening, bidding to complete a league double over the Red Devils.
The team news certainly sprung up some surprises from a United standpoint.
To start with, Harry Maguire was back with the squad but could only make the bench. "Harry was out for two weeks," Ralf Rangnick said. "He doesn't have any problems anymore, but I decided to keep the two centre-backs from the cup game."
Victor Lindelof kept his place alongside Raphael Varane, with Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles the starting fullbacks. Luke Shaw was suspended, whilst Aaron Wan-Bissaka was ill - thus, the right and left back spots picked themselves.
Also suspended, Scott McTominay missed out and was replaced by Nemanja Matic alongside Fred. Again, it meant Donny van de Beek was to miss out in spite of a fellow-midfielder's absence.
It's becoming glaringly obvious that Van de Beek has to be allowed to leave the club. Saturday night wasn’t the first time he has been snubbed by Rangnick with the midfield short of a member. The opportunities have opened up, but chances haven't been given to the Dutchman. Mind, Rangnick has spoken about wanting the midfielder to stay at the club as he is guaranteed chances. He was also full of praise for Van de Beek on Monday, don't forget. Still, it's bench, after bench, after bench.
Bruno Fernandes captained United again, with Mason Greenwood and Edinson Cavani maintaining their positions in the starting team. However, returning from hamstring issues that ruled him out of the cup tie, Jadon Sancho could only make the bench. It wasn't Marcus Rashford who occupied the final attacking spot, though - he sustained "a dead leg in training" on Thursday which "got worse". Anthony Elanga, whom Rangnick is a known admirer of, was gifted his first meaningful Premier League start. No doubt, Elanga deserved the place given his lively, characterful cameo on Monday.
Of course, all of the above meant no Cristiano Ronaldo. It was "still the same problem with his hip flexor," Rangnick confirmed. "We decided that it didn't make sense [to play him] if he’s not feeling fully fit."
For the first time since 2015, United made the short venture to Villa Park with supporters in the away end. Off the back of that, the visitors did start in a very positive manner. There were a number of early corners and freekicks won by the away side to mark this positivity, though the deliveries were all underwhelming and cleared.
After a number of failed balls into the box, with United's seasonal corner count exceeding 100 without a goal, Alex Telles and Bruno Fernandes opted for something more innovative from a freekick deeper on the left flank. The former subtly, deceivingly touched the ball to the latter, with a mediocre unleashed attempt by Fernandes from outside the box seemingly untroubling. It proved just the opposite. Inexplicably, Emiliano Martinez let the ball loose from his grasp and fumbled it through his legs.
Those extremely sympathetic could argue that Cavani's brief positioning in Martinez's eyeline was enough to justify the error, but the lack of threat offered by Fernandes' effort surely justifies no justification whatsoever. The goalkeeper tried to blame everyone and everything other than himself, but it was frankly nothing short of a disaster for the Argentine.
As unorthodox as it may have been, United finally had their set-piece goal. No matter, it was an inventive routine which was enough to catch out the opposition. Ultimately, the goal was reward for a very bright opening from Rangnick's men.
The improvement from a United standpoint was stark, with a distinct assuredness in possession and the ball being held increasingly well. It has been something absent of late, but Rangnick's side looked well-structured, cohesive and fully-functional. There was some really fluid football on display, enhanced by a developed sense of discipline.
The basis was more of a 4-3-3 system, opposing prompts that it would once again be a fixed 4-2-3-1 setup. For once, there was a clear flexibility about the approach, with a 4-1-4-1 sometimes evident out of possession. In possession, Matic's role as an anchor licensed Fred with freedom to join Fernandes in attacking phases.
United were playing at a genuine high tempo, with purpose and control culminating in a dominant display. Elanga proved the epitome of his side's influx of energy, showing great bravery as he made the step up to starting a significant Premier League fixture. The Swede was combining efficiently with Telles down the left flank, posing a notable threat. Elanga actually almost found the net with a back-post header from a Fred delivery, with his movement encapsulating the nature of United's performance.
It was proving a rare occasion of United sustaining a phase of authority, hardly seen since the opening half-hour again Crystal Palace in Rangnick's first match at the helm. The Red Devils were direct in their approach, giving the side who were on top with persistence on Monday night a taste of their own medicine. There were a number of forward surges at pace from United, with a really progressive nature about the overall performance. A number of attempts on goal embodied the reversal of recent showings, with United probing with confidence and sharpness.
United had adapted, meanwhile restricting Villa's strengths. The hosts were hardly able to create, with United not conceding first half shots as they had done so with such prevalence recently. Rangnick's men were winning the ball back very effectively, operating organised traps thus able to provoke overloads and an adept press.
Errors were also proving less frequent for United, with more simplicity about their game. It was the perfect lesson of how executing the basics is key.
Previously only seen in bursts, United were managing to sustain the high volume displayed from the outset. Unsurprisingly, control and authority were the consequence.
Chances were continually few and far between for Villa, but David de Gea remained alert when called upon - none more so than from short range following a rare corner for the home side. Villa did begin to prolong more threat and gain more possession as the half progressed, with possible signs of United tiring after their effortful opening. There were a few more openings for the hosts as momentum was built, with their opposition growing more frantic having previously displayed improved organisation amidst high volume.
Nonetheless, there was a certain growth in unison as United led into the juncture.
Having reemerged after the pause, United looked refreshed having started to look leggy towards the climax of the opening period. Well, Elanga looked lively at least; the youngster picked up pretty much where he left off, driving at the Villa defence and getting a shot away. A breath of fresh air is the perfect way to describe the Swede.
It soon became clear that United's late first half regression was to continue. Yes, that word again. Regression and United are becoming completely synonymous with one another.
Once things settled, it became clear that the second half would provide a much more level playing field. Jacob Ramsey forced De Gea to make a save on the stretch, with Villa's pressure causing each of United's defenders to remain vigilant and make a number of clearances. They had done throughout the first half, but United would have to remain increasingly compact.
Villa did begin to dominate the ball, with exhaustion recurrently growing of more ascendance for United. There were some flowing passages from the hosts, reminiscent of those provided by their opposition throughout the opening period. The Villa Park faithful were wildly encouraged - their side were improving drastically by the moment.
United were no longer managing to break up moves earlier in phases of play, struggling to hold the ball themselves. Rangnick's side had a storm to weather.
A Matty Cash miscue did give Elanga a chance, only for the United man to hit just wide. He was no doubt United's biggest threat, but was becoming one of their only threats as the Red Devils' authority diminished. Saying that, a drive from Greenwood on the opposite flank resulted in another effort drifting just shy of the target. United were becoming more of a counter-attacking outfit, opposing their first half possessional dominance.
Villa, even so, remained in control, though United remained defensively solid. The storm was being weathered, and the visitors were to reap the benefits. From nowhere, and against the run of play, United did find their lead doubled. Once more, it was capitalisation on an error.
Playing out from the back, a Morgan Sanson pass fell short to Fred under some duress from Dalot. The Brazilian midfielder swiftly slotted the ball to the onrushing Fernandes, who took one touch to set himself before absolutely firing the ball off the crossbar for a brace. This time, Martinez had no chance. Smash and grab. You could sense the release of pent up fury in Fernandes’ effort.
There was an immediate response from Steven Gerrard, with Phillipe Coutinho introduced for his debut with Villa in search of a response. Their side had just conceded, but the Villa Park contingent were lifted with the Brazilian's introduction.
Just short of 10 minutes later, Ramsey was on the scoresheet to give Villa a lifeline. Initially, it was too easy for Tyrone Mings - similar to Ezri Konsa in one instance on Monday - to drive through and bypass the United midfield; Greenwood's attempted tackle was half-hearted, with Fred carelessly diving in and missing a challenge. Coutinho was involved in a slick combination, with another misjudged Fred tackle this time poking the ball into Ramsey's path. The home side had expertly manoeuvred a tight area, with the ultimate finish unstoppable.
It took until the 78th minute for Rangnick to make his first alteration in response to the goal, and it was a like-for-like Sancho for Elanga switch. Strange. When United were struggling for control on Monday, Van de Beek for Cavani was the perfect alteration to sure up the midfield. It was almost deja vu, yet an extra attacking man was added despite Matic and Fred struggling, with Villa on the front foot.
Only four minutes on from Ramsey's goal, the Villa faithful got their dream. It was a simple finish, but Coutinho converted and the hosts were level. United had completely collapsed.
Early in the move, Fred failed to make a seemingly routine interception. Lindelof then failed to win the ball off Ollie Watkins having committed, with the defence porous to allow Emiliano Buendia to play an incisive ball through Dalot and Matic to find Ramsey. The first Villa goalscorer played a fantastically-timed first time ball low towards Coutinho at the back of the six yard box, with Lindelof out of possession and Varane unable to intervene on the stretch. It was a routine slot into an open net for the debutant.
Defending was suspect again, with the "weak mentality" mentioned by Ronaldo during the week coming to the forefront. The ability to build on leads continues to evade United.
Villa were tormenting United, who were making it so easy. All control in the midfield was ceded, with Rangnick left to rue his lack of changes in that area after the Ramsey goal to pull one back. In fact, it took until the 89th minute - eight minutes after Coutinho's strike - for Rangnick to act and make more changes. It was the customary last minute addition of Van de Beek, plus Jesse Lingard, with Fernandes and Greenwood withdrawn. Given the fatiguing from the very start of the half, it was mystifying to say the least that no fresh legs had been added considerably earlier.
Rangnick’s resistance to make changes was genuinely a huge downfall. The exact same issue was prevalent under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Maybe it realates to the manager’s belief that he lacks options, but from the outside the alternatives on the bench seem entirely viable. It’s criminal that Van de Beek comes on into the late eighties every single match - especially on Saturday after you really saw the impact of introducing him earlier on the Monday prior. Rangnick has even complained that you can’t make five subs, but he is proving reluctant to even make three. Some naivety is almost being exposed given the German's lack of experience in the English game.
Everything that United had done in the first half was opposed into the second. Villa grew superior in the same aspects. The hosts were showing the desire and played with energy, whilst United regressed back to their old ways as fatigue set in. The hosts were plainly allowed to display their quality.
"It’s very difficult to find some positives after these 95 minutes," Rangnick said. "We had spells where I felt it was our best game since I came here and completely dominated the first 30 minutes."
"When you are 2-0 up, you have to defend it better than we did in the last 15 minutes. We gave away too many balls and were not compact, therefore conceded the two goals."
"It is very difficult to accept this result after being 2-0 up. When you throw away two valuable points it almost feels like a defeat."
United really have to become accustomed to sustaining the level from the first half hour at Villa Park. There is no point having bursts, because - again - little phases will rarely win you matches. These current crop of players do not currently seem physically capable of playing a ‘Rangnick system’ for a whole 90 minutes. Matches are 90 minutes long at the end of the day. Fitness is not up to scratch, and that’s a huge problem.
That's not all - the issues are scattered throughout.
Once again, shortages in quality midfield options were exposed. Matic is currently United’s only out and out ‘defensive midfielder’. In his day, the Serb was some player. Unfortunately, his day is gone. He has recently proved off the pace to control a midfield nowadays, especially in a league that is played at such a high intensity. Phases in the middle were positive on Saturday, but the ‘midfield battle’ can’t just be won in phases. You are not going to control games like that. The midfield has become too weak, and a signing surely has to be pushed for this window. The board have got to act, for once.
Defensive frailties continue to be exposed, with goals conceded numbers continually only kept down by De Gea's form. Villa had nine shots on target on Saturday, the most they’ve had in a league game this season. In excess of 10 shots have been conceded in each of United's last six matches.
On Saturday, United genuinely looked as though they had improved, but the last 20 minutes were nothing short of calamitous. Rangnick's side looked reignited with confidence for a good while, but there is now a fear that the late crumble will damage that. Such implosion makes a draw feel a loss.
Now, tipped 'title challengers' United sit 24 points behind leaders City after only 20 matches. Not only are they miles out of the title race, but they are essentially also on the brink of being out of a top four race already. It’s hard to face the thought of no Champions League football, but it’s growing more and more possible.
A flag was brandished in the away end pre-match, reading, "Broken and rotten from top to bottom."
It's hard to disagree right now. At the moment, United are genuinely on par with sides in the bottom half of the table. There’s absolutely no getting away from that.
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