Man Utd defeated Brighton in the Premier League as Ralf Rangnick made changes to his side for the match.
Manchester United’s win over Brighton this week might not have been perfect, but it could well have given Ralf Rangnick guidance towards settling upon a team that is right for him.
After a well-documented run of draws, it was no surprise to see the interim manager freshen things up with changes in defence, midfield and attack for the Brighton game.
Not all of them worked, but they were at least vindicated by the fact that United ended the match with three points rather than just one.
Integral to the win were United’s two starting wingers on the night, as Rangnick stuck by the in-form Jadon Sancho on the left wing but mixed things up by giving Anthony Elanga his first start on the right.
Neither of the duo managed to get a direct goal involvement during the match, but both contributed immensely to the victory with their work rate and determination throughout.
Sancho still sparkled with some dazzling dribbles, in particular one audacious nutmeg, and Elanga played a key role in the outcome of the match when he ran at goal to draw a red card challenge from the unfortunate Lewis Dunk.
The duo have both already proven their attacking acumen since Rangnick took charge, but the reason they are both favoured by the interim manager is because of what else they offer — primarily in regards to winning possession and contributing to an attacking system that prioritises pace.
Of all the senior attacking options at the club, Sancho ranks the highest in terms of average ball recoveries per match with 4.8 and Elanga places second on the list with an average of 4.3 per match.
The easy win is to compare these with Cristiano Ronaldo who only averages 2 per match, but the fairest way is to put them up against Marcus Rashford — given that he actually plays in a similar role — who averages 3.4 per game.
Another factor working in their favour is that they clearly lead the way in average sprints across every 90 minutes, with Elanga registering an astounding 28.7 while Sancho is second with 21.9. Rashford is by no means a slouch at 20.7 but there is a considerable mark down from him compared to the Swedish teenager.
Last up is average distance covered. Once again, it is Elanga who sets the standard with 11.7km covered per 90 minutes of football, with the ever hard-working Edinson Cavani narrowly behind him on 11.6km. Third on the list is Sancho, with an average of 10.8km, while the other strikers at the club all average figures between 9 and 10km.
With an emphasis on hard work and actively looking to engage higher up the pitch, it is clear to see why Ragnick has given so much playing time to both Sancho and Elanga since he took over at the club.
The pair will both face tougher tests given the opposition that awaits them in the weeks ahead, but, crucially, they have both demonstrated exactly why they deserve those opportunities.
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