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Ralf Rangnick can transform Manchester United midfield by doing what Solskjaer refused to

Ralf Rangnick may have a sizable Manchester United squad at his disposal, but his options remain limited as he attempts to gradually establish a style of play that will see his team constantly press at every chance.

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The German coach is expected to make changes for the Champions League encounter against Young Boys on Wednesday night, but he started with the same team that ended Michael Carrick’s reign with a win against Arsenal last week.

As a result, Rangnick chose to keep the ‘McFred’ midfield axis intact, as the only two players who appear to be capable of working together to fulfill his mercenary tasks in front of the back four.

The interim manager wants United to have more energy and mobility in those two positions, with Fred and Scott McTominay leading the way, though there are still worries about their restricted passing range and lack of line-breaking passes coming from the deeper positions.

Instead, against Palace at the weekend, United depended on long balls from their center-backs, as well as overlapping assistance from their two full-backs, to move the ball forward and compensate for their midfield duo’s lack of inventiveness.

READ ALSO:What Ole Gunnar Solskjaer privately told Manchester United staff about his sacking

According to early indications, United are still looking for a new midfielder for next season, with the goal of finding a player who can join Fred and provide not just the same mobility on the ball, but also the ability to pick a pass and initiate attacks from a deeper position.

Part of the problem derives from McTominay’s recent identity crisis, with the Scotland international still torn between playing as a defensive specialist and as an attacking midfielder.

There is little doubt that McTominay, 24, has the capacity to secure a long-term starting spot in United’s lineup, but he is now unsure of his ideal role as he approaches a critical point in his career.

While the Scotland international is still a valuable squad player, his enthusiasm and professionalism have almost done him damage because he is moved around the club in a selfless manner to benefit the team rather than his own growth.

McTominay has excelled as a defensive midfielder and an auxiliary center-back for his country, but former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen to utilize him as an offensive option due to his development as a striker in the club’s junior system.

McTominay repaid his manager with seven goals in a more advanced box-to-box role for the club last season, but under Rangnick, his chances of regular playing time will have to come in the ball-winning role, which Solskjaer never planned to limit him to.

While midfield partner Fred’s profile has increased in recent weeks, it’s easy to overlook McTominay’s abilities, as he still possesses all of the essential qualities his new temporary manager seeks.

Rangnick must turn his rock into a diamond if he is to keep his position in the United side, and given Solskjaer’s unwillingness to classify him as a defensive midfielder, it is up to him to refine his rock into a diamond.

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