Ralf Rangnick might have to change Manchester United selection policy for season run-in

Manchester United are in danger of finishing what began as a very promising season out of the European qualification places. They are currently seventh in the Premier League, below West Ham, Arsenal, and fourth-placed Tottenham.

The summer acquisitions of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, and Jadon Sancho instilled much optimism for United’s title hopes at the beginning of the campaign, but the season hasn’t worked out the way everyone had hoped. With just seven Premier League fixtures to go, Rangnick’s side cannot afford to slip up anymore.

While young players such as Anthony Elanga and Sancho have displayed glimpses of brilliance this season, Rangnick may opt for more experienced hands to navigate United through these choppy waters. Nemanja Matic, David De Gea and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the current United players who have actually won the Premier League and ought o know what it takes to establish consistency in this competition.

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And while players such as Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof are yet to reach 30, they possess a wealth of Premier League experience too. Rashford reached his 200th Premier League appearance in Saturday’s defeat to Everton, while Lindelof played his 132nd league match for the club and Fernandes his 80th in just three years.

Veteran Juan Mata was also handed a cameo in the defeat at Goodison Park — his first Premier League appearance for almost a year. Composed and precise, the Spanish World Cup winner dictated play and organised his teammates as United searched for a late equaliser against Frank Lampard’s side.

If Rangnick was to opt for experience in these final few games, it would draw comparisons to