Old Trafford was the setting for the closing group stage match of the current Champions League campaign for both Manchester United and Young Boys. Having already qualified top of Group F, as expected, Ralf Rangnick did make a vast amount of changes - in fact wholesale.
For only the second time this season, Dean Henderson started between the sticks in place of the rested David de Gea. Eric Bailly was drafted back into the starting side at centre back, intriguingly and unusually partnered by pre-revealed captain Nemanja Matic. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was also back amongst the starters after a brief spell sidelined with a hand injury, with Luke Shaw featuring for the first time since suffering a second concussion in a month in the defeat to Watford last month.
The seeming first pair within Rangnick's 4222 system was strangely a pivot of Donny van de Beek and Juan Mata; such an attacking pivot begged the question as to whether there could actually be a three man defence on display, with the recognised fullbacks as auxiliary centre backs and Matic alongside Van de Beek in midfield. The latter theory soon proved incorrect.
As the theoretical two '10s', Amad started on the opposite side to Jesse Lingard. Partnering Mason Greenwood within the strikeforce, Anthony Elanga capped off a youthful United outfit. Speaking of youth, the bench was even more academy-orientated - with Tom Heaton a slight exception age-wise but nonetheless a product of the club's youth system. Teden Mengi was the most experienced of the 'younger bunch', with Shola Shoretire the only other player with any competitive first team experience. Bjorn Hardley, Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal were all in search of debuts on a prestigious stage, with Matej Kovar's inclusion on the bench meaning two of the seven players named were goalkeepers.
No doubt, it was an experimental side from Rangnick. Given United's already-secured top spot, it was always bound to be an opportunity for the newly-appointed interim manager to assess his options. It was a big chance for some fringe players to impress in an essential open training session, only in a competitive scenario.
From Young Boys' standpoint, there was still something to play for. In the event that Atalanta were to lose against Villarreal, a win for the Swiss side at Old Trafford would see them qualify for the Europa League knockout stage playoff round.
United started the game brightly, with Mata at the heart of an early opportunity - showing little rust in spite of limited playing time. The Spaniard, situated in a deeper midfield role, showed his expert passing range to create for Amad. The eventual effort was squandered by the Ivorian, but United had begun affairs on the front foot.
It took less than 10 minutes for the hosts to gain benefit from their dominance, stemming from effective progression from defence via Matic playing the ball into the hole where Lingard was situated. The ball was shifted briskly to Elanga by Lingard, with the Swede halting well before knocking into the path of the onrushing Shaw. The returning left back found himself with time to set himself before delivering a well-measured cross; with the ball just behind him, Greenwood opted to attempt an acrobatic effort and found the bottom corner.
Visions of the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Robin van Persie surged within the heads of those onlooking. Greenwood made it look easy, with the finish hailed by Rangnick as a "beautiful goal". The 20 year-old was leading the relatively inexperienced front line with aplomb, with his manager further describing him as "technically outstanding".
There was serious attacking intent from United in the opening exchanges, with the goal coming from a fast, high intensity manoeuvre. Shaw deserves credit for his part by way of the assist, thriving with a renewed license to progress within the fullback position. Coming into the club with question marks over prospective use of Shaw after comments made with relation to the left back not being good enough prior to his stellar 2020/21 campaign, Rangnick certainly seems to have been won over by the Englishman - "It was great to see Luke Shaw back", he said.
United continued to look good in possession after the goal even though the majority of the starters were really lacking playing time. Another quick break followed, commencing from Greenwood displaying endeavour to promptly regain possession having initially lost the ball after Elanga's pass down the line. Greenwood swiftly switched the ball to Lingard, who sent Amad on his way down the left hand side. The Ivorian opted to shift the ball onto his weaker right foot instead of shooting, playing the ball into Lingard's path but just beyond his teammate. There was certain threat on the break.
United's pressing was exemplary again, with a fresh bunch of players showing impressive discipline out of possession. A prime example of the pressing approach was the display of more hard work from Lingard and Greenwood, confining Young Boys into their defensive third. Eventually, persistence saw Greenwood win possession deep into the opposing half, with the scorer of the earlier goal beating his man as he drove across the byline. The ball was cut back to provide a golden opportunity for Mata, though there were bodies put on the line to prevent the Spaniard.
Rangnick was full of praise for Greenwood's work: "He needs to be developed physically but technically he is outstanding. We need to develop him mentally and physically to become the strongest version of himself.”
"Technically, for his age, he is a great player and my job is to develop him and make an athlete out of him and, if he manages to do that, he can become a regular player for this club."
"He showed, not only with the beautiful goal, also the way that he set up an opportunity for Juan Mata, that he is a massive talent. That was brilliant."
United continued to probe as the break drew nearer. Patience was key for the home side, with Van de Beek at the heart of most progression despite operating in a more unnatural deeper midfield role - essentially left alone by his theoretical partner in Mata. The Dutchman proved defensively apt, whilst continuing to show the consistent technical output that he has to offer.
However, you'd be right to argue that Van de Beek was a major contributor to an unexpected Young Boys equaliser. It was a very sloppy concession, right on the brink of the pause. Initially, Wan-Bissaka gave the ball straight back to the Swiss side in his own half from what should have been a routine headed clearance; as has become typical of the right back, he was forced to make up for his own error. Matic then picked up the ball from Wan-Bissaka's responsive intervention, though the United captain played a risky ball to Van de Beek on the edge of his own box. Having drifted inside, Wan-Bissaka didn't expect to receive the ball once more, and wasn't really concentrating enough to realise that Van de Beek had knocked the ball in his direction. From there, the right back lacked energy to retaliate and deny a shot, with Fabian Rieder unleashing and curling unstoppably past Henderson from the edge of the 'D'. All square.
“What was a bit annoying was the way we gave the goal away. We played too many balls into the first line of their pressing area - we could've cleared the ball easily."
It's fair to say Rangnick wasn't too pleased with the manner of the concession, with Van de Beek saying, “Maybe I should kick it away. I didn’t do that - I take responsibility for that."
That wasn't all the action for the half. The levelling of affairs signified a switch in the balance of the game. A soft ball from Matic towards Lingard just before halftime saw Young Boys intervene, with the visitor finding themselves three-on-three, only for Bailly to make a pair of crucial blocks, including one off the goalline. United ended the half in a very loose manner.
Rangnick made no alterations at the juncture, though United did come out of the blocks with quality superior to that at the back end of the opening period. Elanga combined well with Lingard at the start of second half proceedings, with a brisk one-two seeing the high energy Swede facing up to Gillaume Favre. The goalkeeper did well on the stretch, keeping the scoreline with nothing to split the sides.
Although United had retaliated, Young Boys still had their fair share of the joy. The hosts no longer looked wholly comfortable on the ball, only managing to engineer semi-chances for a sustained period.
Nevertheless, Rangnick's men continued to close down the opposition well in phases, with such alignment to the manager's ethos allowing breaks to be triggered now and then. Greenwood continued to stand out with his renewed work ethic, again working cooperatively with Lingard in one instant to regain possession and catalyse one of United's better opportunities of the second half. Lingard was surging forward, offloading to Amad before re-receiving the ball and slotting Elanga through on goal. Again, Favre proved on top form to pressure the Swede and make a save.
The first United alteration came around the hour mark, with centre back Mengi interestingly introduced in place of Shaw at left back. "Hopefully he can be a candidate for the Norwich game in the squad", Rangnick said. Could the early withdrawal have been to save Shaw for the weekend, or was it simply to protect him after the recent layoff he has endured?
In terms of the player introduced, young Mengi impressed throughout his half hour on the field of play. Although he was in an unnatural position at left back, he defended almost faultlessly and showed his vast physical capabilities. He crucially denied some flowing Young Boys moves as United continued to further cease control of the game. He’s one to keep an eye on, for sure.
United's ceasing of control did enable Young Boys to inflict more pressure on the home side's back line. The Swiss side used their width effectively, with Quentin Maceiras surely expected to score from one move having sliced an attempt wide of the mark from close range.
Further towards the 70 minute mark, as was actually reported pre-match, Heaton replaced Henderson between the sticks for his United debut - almost 20 years after joining the academy. It's always an unusual sight seeing a mid-match goalkeeper switch, especially when they are an academy graduate making their debut at a record age of 35 years old.
Simultaneously, Shoretire was introduced in place of Amad. On Instagram after the match, the Ivorian wrote, "I’m truly sorry to have missed my chance in the first half, I should have finished it differently. We always learn for the future."
20 minutes later, as the game drew to its close, time was up for the pair of Mata and Lingard. There was a special introduction by way of Iqbal, becoming the first British South Asian to play for United. Similarly, Savage went one better than his father by coming on for his first ever United senior appearance. The Champions League is some stage to make your debut.
Iqbal said, “It was very special for both of us to come on. We’ve grown up together since under-9s, so to do it with someone I’ve grown up with was even more special.”
In more ways than one, the second half was about Young Boys. Youthful United introductions were the highlight of a dire second 45 minute period, which was dictated for the most-part by the reds' Swiss opposition.
The injury time period was marred by Wan-Bissaka sustaining a painful blow following a hefty whack against the advertising boards after a subtle shove put him off balance after an attempted cross. It was the last action of an underwhelming closing group stage match, with the right back treated as the remainder of the players left the pitch. A few minutes after time, he was stretchered off the pitch.
Rangnick updated fans that “Aaron got two knocks - one on the wrist (already injured), one on the knee. We will have to see how this will develop. He’s been treated in the locker room, but we have to wait and see the situation around the two knocks. I’m positive he will train and hopefully become part of the team against Norwich.”
On the performance, the manager admitted, “It was an experiment, I did it on purpose to save the players energy for their game against Norwich."
“I was fully aware before the game that this team, they haven't played together - not only with regards to formation but also as a team. The first half hour we did quite okay. We had a few unforced errors but had control of the game. We should have been 2-0 or 3-0 up. We had some great opportunities but we didn't score. We were a bit sloppy with those situations.”
“After we conceded the equaliser we were not defending high enough or proactive enough. We could have conceded two or three goals. It was more or less a pressing invitation that we sent. I wouldn't say I was happy but it was okay.”
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