Ralf Rangnick Has Confirmed Manchester United Have Permanently Changed Formation

Ralf Rangnick has confirmed Manchester United have switched formation and will not play with a 4-2-2-2 system going forward.

Rangnick implemented his favourite formation upon taking the interim job at United following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 63-year-old has used it at various different clubs in his career but it's not been a success in the early months at Old Trafford, where he has four wins, three draws and one loss in eight games.

United supporters have questioned the formation and its suitability, with the balance between attack and defence not being there and the team barely pressing.

Things were tweaked for the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa and Rangnick has confirmed he will now deploy a more fluid 4-3-3.

He made the admission when asked about Jesse Lingard's role ahead of the trip to Brentford.

Rangnick: "We have now decided to play in a 4-3-3 like we played against Aston Villa, with one holding six and two eights, with three offensive players." #mulive

— utdreport (@utdreport) January 18, 2022

"We have now decided to play a 4-3-3 like we did against Aston Villa, with one holding six, two eights and three offensive players," Rangnick said, as per Metro.

"There are two positions that he can play but we also have some competition in those positions. Obviously, he needs to play and train on the kind of level that he is an option to start.

"We have a big squad, maybe a little bit too big of a squad. As far as I know, his contract is expiring in the summer and the question is what will happen after that four months. Again, he is a player who can play, I brought him on in the last 10 minutes of the Villa game along with Donny van de Beek."

The change of system could spark an end to the Scott McTominay and Fred pivot, but a big beneficiary of the 4-3-3 and specifically, an attacking free, could be Jadon Sancho.

After a slow start following on from his £73 million switch from Borussia Dortmund, Rangnick thinks he can thrive on either flank.

“It's clear in a 4-3-3 that he (Sancho) is a player for either of the wing positions, either left or right, he can play both," Rangnick commented.

"I think he would prefer a little bit the left side, because then he can switch inside and shoot on goal with his strong right foot.

“But for me there's no questions about his position.

"He's a winger, as we say in Germany, someone who can dribble fast with the ball and for me there's not at all a question over the best possible position for him."

United play Brentford away on Wednesday night, with top scorer and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo set to return after missing the last two games.