RALF HAS US GOAL MINING
SCOTT McTOMINAY says Ralf Rangnick’s tactical tweaks can spark a goal rush in a brighter new year for the club.
The midfielder was on the mark as United brought the curtain down on the year with a 3-1 win over Burnley at Old Trafford on Thursday.
He predicted the German’s attacking quartet backed up by a bolter from midfield will ensure the goals will flow in 2022.
McTominay said: “I could have had more than one goal against Burnley, which is obviously part and parcel of what the manager wants.
“He wants players to get in the box. We need players in the box more.
“We need to be more involved with putting crosses in the box, bodies in there to score goals and we did in the first half.
“Every system and every different manager brings new challenges which is exciting for footballers. I feel like the enjoyment out of football can sometimes get lost.
Rangnick explained the thinking behind his 4-2-2-2 system, likening the holding midfielder Nemanja Matic to a “quarterback”.
McTominay was given licence to maraud forward and might well have emerged with a hat-trick.
Rangnick said: “We decided to play with the two ‘sixes’ as we did, to have Nemanja as a sort of quarterback, who can calm the play down and play passes from there.
“Scotty’s energy on the pitch is contagious. That was an extremely good performance by him.”
McTominay said Rangnick’s team, who face Wolves at Old Trafford on Monday, would keep plugging away and try and have a better year next year.
He said: “It’s different. We’re learning, we don’t want to look too far ahead. The next game against Wolves is more important than anything.”