Chelsea might have been disappointed to have to settle for a point at Old Trafford, but as Thomas Tuchel was serenaded by the away end at full-time it was a reminder of the impact a sharp coach and clever tactician can have on the fortunes of a team.
The Blues are transformed from the days under Frank Lampard and this fixture was brought forward 17 days because they will contest a sixth final in Tuchel's 15 months in charge in the middle of May.
When Roman Abramovich was hit by sanctions from the UK government in March, United explored the possibility of prising Tuchel away from Stamford Bridge. When it was clear that wasn’t going to happen they settled for Erik ten Hag and how badly this squad needs his influence now.
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A couple of hours before this game it emerged that Rangnick was in talks to take over as head coach of Austria once his spell at Old Trafford comes to an end, a job he will take on while maintaining his consultancy role with United.
Rangnick is fortunate to be walking into another coaching job given how spectacularly badly this one has gone. He was plucked from the back offices by United and a run of 10 wins from his 26 games in charge is abysmal.
The players have long stopped believing in his methods and those of his unknown American assistant Chris Armas. They have never earned the respect of a dressing room full of internationals.
This is a United squad that looks desperate for the new direction Ten Hag will provide. The tactical mistakes they made against Chelsea were as basic as it gets and while it might never be clear just how much blame should fall at the door of Rangnick or the players, the set-up never looked like working.
United have been given the runaround by wing-backs at Old Trafford previously this season, most notably Tottenham in a game they won 3-2, thanks to the genius of Cristiano Ronaldo more than anything else.
They have learned nothing from those games. Marcos Alonso and Reece James again had the freedom of the wings at Old Trafford. James gave Alex Telles a torrid time but the Brazilian was torn between staying wide to deal with James and following the runs of Mason Mount between himself and Raphael Varane.
Time and again Mount would make that run, leaving James in space to receive a crossfield pass. It’s not even a tactic Chelsea devised for this game. It’s a ploy they use every week, but United were powerless to stop it.
Central midfield has been a problem for Rangnick ever since his arrival at the club, but the ease at which the trio of Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Bruno Fernandes were played around by Chelsea was startling.
N’Golo Kante and Jorginho won that battle despite being a man light and there was rarely any pressure on the ball when they were in possession. Rangnick arrived as the godfather of gegenpressing but United have retreated so much they barely press the ball on the edge of their own penalty area now.
On paper, a draw with Chelsea when you have eight first-teamers absent and a team in freefall might not look too bad, but United were second best for almost the entire contest.
By the half-hour mark Chelsea had managed nine shots and their analysts in the press box were as animated as Thomas Tuchel on the touchline when chance after chance went begging.
At the end, Chelsea had managed 21 shots to United’s four and nine corners to two. With a sharper eye for goal they would have run riot.
There are three games of this dreadful season to go, three games where the highlight will be minutes for some of the youngsters in the squad last night, of which only Alejandro Garnacho featured in injury time. Alvaro Fernandez, Hannibal Mejbri, Shola Shoretire and Garnacho might found things a little easier against Brentford, Brighton or Crystal Palace.
But their more senior teammates are counting down the days until May 22. Rangnick might well be off to Austria soon over but this is a team that needs the influence of a smart coach and a clever tactician. Erik ten Hag should find a group of willing listeners who hope he can do for them what Tuchel has done for Chelsea.
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