Rangnick, Pogba and Sancho defuse the latest Man Utd implosion

Manchester United seemed to have fallen foul of their recent habits against Leeds, only for Ralf Rangnick to turn the tide and secure a win.

As is always the case when a football club appoints a thinker (noun: a non-British or Irish national who wears glasses), every subsequent decision they make is met with a general scepticism or distrust. Their tactics are questioned and scoffingly referred to only as part of a wider ‘philosophy’. The prospect of working with psychologists and appointing specific coaches for set-pieces or – shudder the thought – throw-ins – are spoken of in hushed tones during dismissive punditry studio discussions. Quotes are often wilfully misrepresented or misunderstood. Everything is pulled into a vortex of continental cynicism at the expense of context and analysis.

He is foreign and wears glasses, so… pic.twitter.com/lWDinkYX8f

— Football365 (@F365) November 26, 2021

It obscures everything, forces even obvious calls into a prism of nonsense. Ralf Rangnick faced ridicule when he openly wondered why he wouldn’t make Paul Pogba available for selection upon his return from injury. The same sensationalist media that asked the peculiar question poured scorn on the fair answer. The interim Manchester United manager made the mistake of expecting them to understand the benefit a short-term injection of £89.3m excellence would have on the club’s most troubled position.

Some complained that Pogba was being placed in the shop window as further proof of muddled decision making at Old Trafford; Rangnick realised the mannequins in his midfield needed help.

For just over an hour at Elland Road, that approach bore yet more fruit. Pogba has played four Premier League games since being reintroduced, scoring and