Aside from the one game he was suspended for, Scott McTominay has been part of every Manchester United line-up in the Premier League under Ralf Rangnick since the interim boss took charge.
Paul Pogba’s return to the side means tough selection decisions lie ahead, and former RB Leipzig manager Jesse Marsch has been giving his thoughts on United’s options ahead of next week’s Champions League showdown against Atletico Madrid.
Marsch spoke to The Athletic and said he believes United’s star attackers Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba can play together even in the big games.
He explained: “I’m excited to see Pogba back after injury and what Rangnick can accomplish with him. I can see Pogba, Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes starting together. The way they’ve played with the 4-3-3- recently, I think Pogba fits in well there.
“Fernandes can play as one of the eights or in one of the wider positions. It could look really good. Fred can be the disciplined guy, sitting deep. You could have one six and two eights, or be more like PSG with two sixes and Bruno as a No 10 in a 4-2-3-1. But I reckon they will stick with 4-3-3.”
Both Fred and Scott McTominay have formed an axis together for much of the past two years, partly because they work well together, and partly because neither can anchor the midfield effectively alone, with an attacking duo of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes alongside them.
Marsch’s comments suggest quite clearly that Fred would be his third option along with Pogba and Fernandes, with Scott McTominay dropping out of the starting XI.
The former Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls coach has worked alongside Ralf Rangnick in the past and was recently a guest at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over West Ham at the end of January.
He added: “It was their best counter-pressing game under Ralf Rangnick and that is so important when you play Atletico. When you lose it, you must win it back straight away.”
No away goals rule could encourage attacking approach
This year is the first time there will be no away goals rule in the Champions League. This could encourage a more attacking approach from teams.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin explained: “The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage. There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.”
The rule change could help persuade United to adopt a strategy suggested by Marsch, where rather than picking Fred and McTominay and choosing which of Fernandes and Pogba to drop, instead it would be one of the ‘McFred’ duo which is axed, to accommodate the more attacking and exciting players.
Both strategies are risky and Rangnick will weigh them up. There could be a difference in set up for both home and away legs. But if United are going to go out, supporters would rather the team bow out swinging, than with a whimper.
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