Why Paul Pogba played out of position in Manchester United's midfield vs Norwich

Ralf Rangnick urged Manchester United's midfielders to adopt a 'defensive' mindset in a tactic that backfired in their narrow 3-2 win over Norwich.

Paul Pogba was United's only starting midfielder as Rangnick opted to bench Nemanja Matic, with Scott McTominay and Fred unavailable through injury, and field a gung-ho attack.

Pogba started at the base of a midfield three with Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard ahead of him but United's loose set-up was exploited by Norwich, who recovered from 2-0 down to equalise early in the second-half.

Read more: United player ratings vs Norwich as Ronaldo brilliant

Matic is United's only specialist defensive midfielder but the 33-year-old revealed he has decided to leave the club at the end of the season. Rangnick turned to Matic midway through the second-half and Cristiano Ronaldo salvaged victory with a hat-trick to take United to within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham.

"I told the team we were playing with a very offensive formation and line-up, with Paul Pogba, with Bruno in midfield and with Jesse," Rangnick explained. "This is a very offensive formation and line-up and I told them it's very important we play with a defensive mindset, that everyone has to think like a defensive midfielder.

"But after we scored the second goal we allowed them too much open space for the transitional moments. If you look at the two goals we conceded, especially the first one, we had the ball on the sideline but we were not physical enough, as soon as there is body contact we have to be more aggressive, more physical. That's why for me, it's too easy.

"We are the only team in the league who concedes goals like this, we were all behind the ball in that moment, so it was not a question of