Manchester United had 68% possession and 22 shots against Watford yet they couldn't find a goal to break the deadlock. Old Trafford grew increasingly frustrated as the match went on and chants of 'attack, attack, attack' failed to have the desired effect.
It was the latest disappointing result in a string of wasteful performances. After the winter break, United lost against Middlesbrough, drew against Burnley, Southampton and Watford, and they should have won all four matches. They'd be ahead of Chelsea on points in the Premier League and still in the FA Cup - which was the only realistic avenue to silverware - if they had taken their chances.
Ralf Rangnick couldn't hide his frustration after United drew with Watford. "In the end, it's about efficiency, about being clinical in front of goal, and this is not for the first time unfortunately," Rangnick said. The German was criticising United's players. He said what every supporter leaving Old Trafford that evening was thinking. United's wastefulness had proved costly once again.
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You don't deserve to secure Champions League football if you can't beat relegation-threatened Watford at home, however, United remain in contention to finish in the top four. In any normal season, their inconsistency would have been punished, but the race for the Premier League's top four is like watching four drunks (United, West ham, Arsenal and Tottenham) try to calamitously stumble home.
Arsenal seem the most credible threat to United - that's embarrassing on last season's evidence - and they now sit just two points behind but with three games in hand. United play Manchester City on Sunday and they'll be wary of dropping more points.
United will be desperate to get a result in the Manchester derby. Pep Guardiola's side have shown glimmers of weakness in recent weeks against Tottenham and Everton, and Rangnick will have to take a degree of encouragement from those results. United will seek to exploit their imperfections. They have successfully done that in the past against all odds in the derby against Guardiola.
Although results haven't improved since the turn of the year, United have on most statistical metrics. They are creating more chances under Rangnick than they were with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick in charge - they just aren't taking them.
Rangnick wants United to be proactive and fleeting moments in matches - they crucially haven't been sustained - have reflected his philosophy. However, the threat the opposition will pose will always be considered for the interim boss' tactical approach.
It will be difficult, and perhaps stupid, for United to go toe to toe with City at the Etihad. Rangnick wants United to enjoy the bulk of the possession but Guardiola's side are masters in this area. So, as in most Manchester derbies over the last few years, United are likely to see significantly less of the ball, something which could actually be their tactical preference, as suggested by Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes was asked about United's lacklustre performance against Watford and he hinted United are better without the majority of possession in fixtures. "The game was the same as what happened against Middlesbrough in the cup," Fernandes said.
"But we didn't go through in that one and we didn't win today, so I prefer to create one or two chances and win the game and probably sometimes not have the control of the game in our hands."
Fernandes' comments made sense. United's best results against elite sides under Solskjaer were achieved through ruthless counter-attacking football and the club's results worsened when the Norwegian tried to play in a more expansive manner.
After Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo joined the club, playing on the counter-attack was no longer acceptable, but considering the circumstances and the calibre of opposition on Sunday, it seems like the only acceptable approach.
It would be just typical of United to produce this weekend - they have form for stunning City when least expected.
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