‘United adapting to Rangnick’s playing style’

Nemanja Matic (centre)

Manchester United have already started adapting to interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s high-energy, aggressive style of play, midfielder Nemanja Matic said, despite disruptions to their schedule caused by a Covid-19 outbreak at the club. United are unbeaten in three games in all competitions under Rangnick since he arrived at Old Trafford but have had two Premier League games postponed and last played on Dec. 11. The 63-year-old German is a proponent of “gegenpressing” — a style of football in which teams press high and use counter-pressing to win the ball back as soon as possible, rather than falling back to regroup. “We understand his ideas and what he wants to play. Slowly, we will be where he wants us to be. It’s a bit of everything, not just pressing... You must be physically ready and play well tactically,” Matic said. “Every manager (who) comes to a new club needs a period to adapt. We will take some time but we have enough talent in the squad to understand quickly and play how he wants us to. We are already adapting to him. It’s the beginning, but we are all positive and we will see in the future.” Rangnick has been drafted in by the Reds to guide the club until the end of the season following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking. And with the pressure on the German to deliver a top-four finish and progress in the Champions League, Matic believes the presence of managers like Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte means Rangnick’s task could not be harder. Matic said: “I think this is the toughest league so far. When I came over in 2009, it was only Chelsea and Man United who were competing. Now there are a lot of teams who have a chance to win. The smaller ones have improved a lot and buy top-class players. The Premier League is just very hard…much more than 15 years ago, and of course, every manager who comes to a new club needs a period to adapt.” Matip has no doubts that Rangnick took over a team that was under performing. He said: “Of course, we’ve had some problems, and must have 100 per cent concentration from the first minute to the last – but when we are focussed it’s difficult to play against us. You have to be clinical when you have a chance to score and if you defend well, that’s what brings you trophies – and it’s time for us to show our qualities and finally win some.” United will travel to Newcastle United today before hosting Burnley on Thursday and Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 3.