Just when you thought Manchester United couldn’t get any lower, they prove everyone wrong.
Their exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Championship outfit Middlesbrough on Friday brought a new wave of disappointment and discontent to Old Trafford.
Ralf Rangnick’s men may have taken the lead through Jadon Sancho and had every right to feel aggrieved by Boro’s controversial equaliser, but this doesn’t mask their obvious deficiencies.
They still look like a side without a definitive game plan or identity. United are a collection of individuals brought together by various coaches, all with their own philosophies.
The effect has been damning. Now out of both domestic cups, the last trophy available to the Red Devils is the Champions League. Based on everything witnessed last Friday, Rangnick can wave goodbye to securing silverware in his interim reign.
United focus turns to Burnley
Before he even begins considering mounting an improbable siege on the competition, the German must mastermind a top-four Premier League finish.
Presently, this mission is just about on track. His team snuck into the Champions League places after beating fellow European hopefuls West Ham United before the international break.
They can solidify their position further by beating relegation-threatened Burnley tomorrow night. Sean Dyche’s men are currently rooted to the bottom of the table, with an unlucky 13 points from their opening 19 fixtures.
Rangnick can make a statement by instantly reversing United’s fortunes while sending a message to the group by reshuffling his pack. Most of those who featured against Middlesbrough deserve to be dropped for Tuesday’s clash, allowing others to stake their claim for a regular call up.
I’m primarily referring to Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard.
Let Lingard and Mata off the leash
With Donny van de Beek now at Everton, only two members of the ‘left-out and overlooked club’ remain.
Mata hasn’t made a single appearance in the league this season, while Lingard’s numbers aren’t much better. The 29-year-old was denied a move in the January window, meaning he will run out the rest of his contract that expires this summer.
Considering chances will probably be few and far between from now until the campaign’s conclusion, it seems fair Lingard should return to the XI to face Burnley.
The same can be said for Mata, who is in a similar contractual boat to the England international.
He showed glimpses of the classy character United signed from Chelsea for £37.1 million (BBC) the other night, but now fans want to see the full picture.
Some might see playing the pair as a risk, but what has Rangnick got to lose?
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