Ralf Rangnick’s controversial ‘shop window’ ploy paying off in Man Utd’s top-four chase

When Ralf Rangnick intimated that Paul Pogba could effectively use his final months at Manchester United to put him in the shop window, it was met with angst.

The idea of United being little more than a vessel for the club’s most expensive player in their history to find a new team was difficult to take.

But that was the approach the interim boss took ahead of his return from injury last month.

Rangnick was even asked whether there was a point in playing Pogba at all, considering he will be out of contract by the time this season ends.

“Yes, of course,” he swiftly replied. “By the way, my contract as a manager is also expiring in the summer. For us we have the same goal. We have the same ambition to be as successful as we can possibly be in the next three or four months.

“As long as this is the case, why shouldn't Paul Pogba [play] now after two and half months of injury, fully fit again now?

“And he also wants to show up, he wants to show the fans of Manchester United, the board, the whole world what kind of player he can be.

“And even if it's only to show enough for a new contract elsewhere, he will be highly motivated to do that and why should I then not play him?”

Pogba has always endured a difficult relationship with the Old Trafford support - with his constant eye-fluttering towards every major team doing little for fan-player relations.

And the difficulties over contract negotiations - United have tried and failed to agree to terms on a new deal - have further dented his standing amongst the fanbase.

But if there were any question marks over his remaining determination to succeed with the Red Devils, they have been swept away in the weeks since returning to full fitness.

In the last month, there has arguably