Nemanja Matic was brought back into the Manchester United starting XI for the game against Watford at Old Trafford.
The experienced Serbian put in a good cameo performance off the bench against Atletico Madrid in midweek, and with Scott McTominay still absent, he got a start here.
Matic anchored the midfield as he tends to do, keeping United’s passing simple and calm on a day where United dominated the game but did not score.
He was replaced as United chased the game and went for a 4-2-4 system, which left the back four more vulnerable to counter attacks and did not produce the winner.
Some United fans on Twitter praised Matic for his performance and lamented the fact he was replaced when the game was in the balance.
That substitution made sense in the respect that it meant that more creative players were on the pitch but there was a lack of balance in the team thereafter.
Rangnick could not have been more aggressive with his changes, and his alterations have made an impact in recent matches but not so here.
Here is how Matic’s display went down on social media after a result which is frustrating and offers a boost to United’s rivals for the Champions League spots…