Redknapp accuses Rangnick of “making up systems” during Man Utd loss to Wolves

Ralf Rangnick suffered his first defeat as Manchester United’s interim manager on Monday night as Joao Moutinho’s late strike gave Wolves a well-deserved 1-0 win at Old Trafford

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Manchester United v Wolves: Match in pictures

Ralf Rangnick was “making up systems” during Manchester United’s defeat against Wolves on Monday night, according to Jamie Redknapp.

United put in a poor performance at Old Trafford and were beaten 1-0 after Joao Moutinho fired into the bottom corner in the 82nd minute.

The hosts managed just two shots on target, with Burno Fernandes striking the bar with their best chance before seeing an injury-time free-kick pushed away by Jose Sa.

United began the match in their now customary 4-2-2-2 formation, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani supported by Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood.

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were summoned from the bench in the second half as Rangnick switched to a three-man defence.

But it was to no avail as the German manager suffered his first defeat since replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on November 29.

Rangnick has picked up league wins against Crystal Palace, Norwich and Burnley, but a 1-1 draw against Newcastle and the defeat by Wolves have drawn stinging criticism from former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp.

“They [Wolves] were playing a side so devoid of confidence, of ideas, of how to play, the system,” he said on Sky Sports.

“We talk about managers coming into the game, and Rangnick came in with this famed 4-2-2-2 system.

“It doesn’t work if you don’t have the right players. You have to play the right system. Then he went to a three at the back, a 4-4-2, and at the end I think he was making up systems.

“There was no real identity of how they were trying to play. The Watford performance was a real low, but I’m sure the United fans thought at least they were good going forward.

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“There was nothing today. When you watch Man City and the best teams, they have control of the midfield. United never had that.

“Never once did they play passes to each other, or have an ability to take the sting out of the game, they were so poor today.”

Defeat left United seventh in the Premier League, four points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal, albeit with one game in hand.

Former United midfielder Paul Ince sees similarities between Rangnick’s United and the team Solskjaer assembled when taking over from Jose Mourinho in December 2019.

“It reminded me of when Ole first took over at Manchester United and he had an easy fixture list, Cardiff teams like that,” he explained.

“It came off the back of a Mourinho team where the players didn’t really like Mourinho, the atmosphere was hostile, Ole came in he had a great fixture list to go into, changed the system, changed certain things, made it a happy camp and they started winning games.

“I think we all got hoodwinked into thinking this is the way forward and this was progression.

“I get that same feeling now. I get the same feeling now with the fixture list, that Ralf has come into is a perfect fixture list for a manager managing a big club like Manchester United.”

United now have a seven-day break before facing Aston Villa twice in succession, in the FA Cup and the Premier League.