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Ralf Rangnick 4-2-2-2 Formation: Gegenpressing Tactics Explained
Ralf Rangnick won his first match against Crystal Palace as Man United manager and the German setup his first Manchester United side tactically in a 4-2-2-2 gegenpressing formation! How did Ralf Rangnick secure his first win in the Premier League? The simple answer is: he did that using a 4-2-2-2 formation.
This is something Ralf Rangnick has done throughout his career and as I’ve said previously, the Manchester United squad is perfectly suited to a 4-2-2-2 formation. Using two no.10’s allows Bruno Fernandes even more freedom to create. Will Ralf Rangick continue with this formation? Yeap, that’s possible but it depends on the success achieved during his 6-month stint as interim Man Utd boss.
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Ralf Rangnick 4-2-2-2 Gegenpressing Formation Tactics Explained
With a coaching career that stretches back to the 1980s, football professor Ralf Rangnick has been around the block with his most successful managerial spell coming at Hoffenheim. Since then, the Professor has been more involved at board level, as he oversaw the Red Bull revolution in Salzburg and Leipzig as the Director of Football.
Rangnick’s most recent spell in management came in the 2018/19 Bundesliga where he kept the RB Leipzig seat warm for Julian Nagelsmann. Mainly deploying a 4-2-2-2, Rangnick took the club 3 places higher in the Bundesliga and 13 points better off than they were in the previous season under Ralph Hassenhuttl. Rangnick’s style of play is Intense, direct and tough to keep up with but extremely rewarding and very fun to watch. His Leipzig side would gegenpress from a very narrow block which enabled them to press high and frequently force turnovers in dangerous positions.
In possession, Ralf’s Leipzig team would get all of its width from overlapping full backs, with the attacking structure resembling a 2-2-4-2 as the creative interiors: Sabitzer and Forsberg, could create from the half spaces. Rangnick’s teams don’t tend to build out from the back and invite pressure to create space higher up the pitch like you’d expect from a possession based style. Instead they’re very direct and often look to play forward as quickly as possible.
Ralf Rangnick 4-2-2-2 Formation: Gegenpressing Tactics at Man Utd
So what can we expect from Rangnick at Manchester United? Throughout his career, he’s used different systems and had a lot of success with a 4-3-3, a 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-2-3-1 so don’t be surprised if you see tweaks from game to game. That being said, I think that Man Utd’s squad is made for Rangnick’s 4-2-2-2. The Professor will give all of Man United’s players a crash course in gegenpressing and whilst this could force a lot of fatigue and injuries without a preseason, United’s squad is big enough to cope with the demands.
The big question mark is Cristiano Ronaldo. Too good to drop but not suited to a gegenpress, an energetic strike partner could be crucial in allowing him to feature. Despite that, many of his key positions at RB Leipzig can be implemented and fulfilled with the current crop of Manchester United players and I expect the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho to thrive under his management.
In my opinion, Ralf Rangnick is the best interim option full stop and if he was 10 years younger he’d be a contender for the full time job. I question the next step as a consultant and what that actually means. He’s been incredibly successful as a Director of Football so why not use that experience?
That being said I’m still hugely impressed by the appointment and I can’t wait to see his style of football at Old Trafford.
Ralf really brought some sense into the lineup vs Crystal Palace. You have CR7, arguably one of the best headers of the ball in the penalty box so might as well use that strength by having fullbacks and attackers that can cross. The amount of crosses and chances available from those crosses was the first time I’ve seen in a very long time, very reminiscent of the old Fergie teams.
Above all that, basic things such as positioning was what really caught my eye. During pressing, transition or even possession, there was clear positioning of players. During Ole’s tenure, this was lacking. Hopefully with each training session, the team gets better and I won’t have any doubt that Ralf will implement individual training plans for each player to improve them.
Rangnick has already made United a more fluent team passing wise and more movements inside the pitch; players switching positions and lots of overlaps: it’s looking bright for United.
But anyway, what do you think? Are you excited by the appointment of Ralf Rangnick? And which players do you think will thrive the most during his time at the reds? Let me know in the comments below!
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There is NO REASON for Gareth Southgate to be linked with the Manchester United job
Gareth Southgate is the only person in the Universe who can turn Manchester United into Middlesbrough within no time
The English media is trying all their best to push Southgate to united, but he is championship level manager at best
The England national team is waay better than this Manu squad, and he has had 0 success ( reaching semis ain’t success). So what exactly are people expecting if he becomes Manu boss
Absolutely no way! Why would Man U hire Southgate? That would be the worse decision in the history of the game.
ETH outwitted Klopp last weekend in one of the best and most dramatic FA cup clashes in years and I’m sorry but Southgate would not have won that game and ETH has had to deal with Ronaldo, Sancho, Greenwood and so on, he deserves more time
Soccer Football – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on the pitch before the match REUTERS/Umit Bektas/ File photo
I have been saying this for weeks now. If United were under any other manager especially Southgate, they would be fighting for relegation right now. The problem at United is not Ten Hag but the players.
People keep saying that Ten Hag’s style of football at United is not attractive and no identity but there is so much that a manager can do if the players themselves are not good enough or not putting enough effort. Ten Hag’s Ajax were playing attractive football and he managed to get them to the SF of the CL.
Without him, look at Ajax now. And the media keep pushing their agenda to get Ten Hag sack and replace him with a much worse manager like Southgate. If Ten Hag is managing England right now, with the players they have, we won’t see such a passive football like we saw yesterday vs Brazil. Ask Liverpool fans, would they replace Klopp with Southgate? I rest my case.
- Ten Hag Says Man United Are on Track
- Liverpool blame themselves for FA Cup loss to Man United
- Man United searching for Erik ten Hag replacement
Liverpool only have themselves to blame for loss to Manchester United. Had to find a way to squeeze in the random Bruno slag off in between. Dude was dead on his feet at full time, and had to slot in to center back for the last 30 minutes.
SportsFila reflect on Manchester United’s 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup Quarterfinals and look ahead to the semifinals where Erik ten Hag’s side will take on Coventry.
How come everybody seems to have forgotten that 2 of LFC’s goals were pure luck?
More shots, same shots on goal, higher goal expectancy. What is this narrative that Liverpool should have put this game away, if anything we should’ve put this game away! They had a good 20, 25 minute stint where they kept the ball in the second half, but did nothing with it, we deservedly won this game.
David de Gea is still without a club since leaving Manchester United this summer (Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
For Liverpool fans: don’t say that we lost to Manchester United because Jota Trent Alisson and jones didn’t play. We have to stop doing that every time a team loses a big game it’s very stupid because had you won, you wouldn’t be saying that. Don’t forget that when y’all drew 0-0 to them at home Trent Alisson and Jones started. Keep in mind how well they’ve been playing despite having lots of injuries they almost beat Manchester City’s full strength squad last week.
Also, you lose to Manchester United, 2 fringe players for them decided the game for them, Liverpool didn’t play well and a loss is a loss you have to accept it otherwise you’re a sole loser and are unwilling to take it.
It’s interesting how nothing much is said about the mistakes made by Liverpool, but all criticism is piled on Bruno; how supposedly poor he was.
Ten Hag claims United is moving in the right direction 👀 WHAT DIRECTION IS THAT?!
Every time he speaks after a dismal performance after the match I always sit there saying to myself “What on Earth are you talking about”.
The media trying so hard to get ETH sacked…..when liverpool had bad injuries with VVD out, y’all didnt have the same energy
Most fans want ETH out because of his poor tactics and substitutions. I also felt he should be braver to drop non-performing players irrespective of names, and even play academy players if he has to.
Now I’m ETH in because I realise from Rooney’s and Ole’s recent interviews that the mentality of these players are incredibly low and it’s no longer just speculation that the players can’t cope on this stage.
I can understand ETH saying positive things and coming off as “crazy” but if you have players who are weak minded and aren’t willing to fight, you can’t be tough cos they’ll cave and where does that leave you for the rest of the season?! Jason Sancho case in point. I rather come across as insane to the media but hope that I’m lifting the team enough to get a string of performances to save my job and give the fans at least something to cheer about until I can have a summer clear out.
Keane is a freaking legend but that approach with these weak players will kill them and ETH would lose the dressing room.
This man keeps dropping off bombs on and off the field..A gift that keeps on giving..Most delulu man on this green earth
What a GIFT! Hand him a 15 years contract and 5 years add ons
The problem for Utd in recruiting an elite manager in the Summer is that Liverpool, Bayern and Barca will also be looking for new managers.
From the moment I heard “A new era begins. .” from ETH. I knew it was the joke of the century. He has the guts to say it while Klopp/Guardiola are competing against each other by 1 point in the Primer league he acted like he can compete with them ro
