Bad Man United start 2022 with Ralf Rangnick mission reminder, overshadowing Phil Jones return

MANCHESTER, UK – It says everything about Manchester UnitedThat opening game in 2022 Phil Jones came back for the first time in 708 days and, in some ways, was their best player.

There is no disrespect for Jones, if there is no game since January 2020 when he returns from a serious knee injury. He did admirably, but if you had to pick out a United player who hasn’t played in two years, he’d be on the list.

Ralf Rangnick’s team plummeted without brakes Defeat 1-0 on Monday – Wolves’ first win at Old Trafford since 1980 and his first loss since taking over as caretaker manager – but without Jones it would have been more complete great number of. The only surprise is Joao MoutinhoThe winner had to come 82 minutes. Wolves, dominant throughout the game, finished with 19 shots and eight corners. United had nine and three corners, two of which came in injury time.

“We didn’t play well individually or as a team,” Rangnick said. “We are very disappointed in the results and parts of our performance.” Wolves are the best team we have played. We had more problems today than in other games.

“We didn’t pressurize. We tried, but we couldn’t have those pressurized situations. There were times when we played well but today we have to admit that they are better than us. “

Rangnick spent his first month talking about the need for “control” in games but United didn’t have it against Wolves. Their bright magic lasts all two minutes when Bruno Fernandes, came on as a substitute in the second half, hit the crossbar and Cristiano Ronaldo had a title ruled out for offside. In addition, it is the wave of yellow vests spilling forward.

Wolves have averaged 10 shots per game this season but here they hit that mark in just 27 minutes. As of half-time, this was up to 15 – the most for Old Trafford visitors in the first 45 minutes of a Premier League game since statisticians started counting such things in 2003. .

David De Gea made a great save from close range Ruben Neves volley and more than once Jones was present to neutralize the danger. Francisco Trincao would have scored in the first half if Jones hadn’t been in the right place at the right time to give up Nelson Semedoof the cross, and he has every right to ask why, once he has a clear head Adama TraoreFrom Moutinho’s cross, Moutinho hit a one-touch finish, hit De Gea’s net and sent the ball narrowly wide of the post.

Rangnick said: “The goal that we conceded, we had enough players in the box. “Jones saved the cross but we’ve conceded too many goals this season.

As United chased a late equalizer that shouldn’t have been deserved, their last chance – a Fernandes free-kick was saved by Jose Sa – only came because Jones showed combat and wanted to risk a face-to-face warm-up to win the ball first Fabio Silva on the edges of the box. A few of his teammates can learn something on their own.

With Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof Perhaps due to injury or illness, Rangnick hopes Jones can enjoy a quiet comeback against a Wolves side, who have only scored 13 goals this season, a tally higher than 18 in all competitions. number 19 other teams. Instead, however, United made them look like 1970 Brazil with Moutinho and Neves strolling around in midfield like two old boys playing long throw in the school playground.

“It’s another win,” said Wolves boss Bruno Lage, who saw his team score for the third time since November 1. “Lovely stadium, a place full of it history but the most important thing was how we played.

“We played our way, we controlled the first half and missed a lot of chances. We took three points and had more chances than goals. We deserved the three points.”

Rangnick wrote in his show notes before kicking off that “it may look and feel like a lot of work to do but I hope everyone is looking forward to the coming months with excitement” – but it’s a another night when optimism was in short supply. There have been a lot of them in the last 12 months.

Arsenal, City of Manchester, Chelsea and Liverpool spent the weekend serving up intense and entertaining matches but none of it was on display at Old Trafford. The result leaves United four points behind the teams in the table but after an evening against Wolves the gap looks much bigger.