LONDON: The cautious game plan, with Cristiano Ronaldo dropped to the bench, worked for Manchester United.

Hitting Premier League leaders Chelsea on the counterattack, with Jadon Sancho scoring his first Premier League goal, and grabbing a point is the type of damage limitation-mode United are in this season.

Snatching a 1-1 draw on Sunday after home humiliations to Liverpool and Manchester City in the fading embers of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign gives Ralf Rangnick a platform to build on.

The German was named as interim manager until the end of the season on Monday, eight days after Solskjaer was removed.

Rangnick is a pioneer of the high-intensity pressing game developed in Germany and increasingly dominant across the world over the last decade, so his arrival at Old Trafford for his first job in English football should shake up the playing style of United as the record 20-time English champions looks to rescue their season.

United’s former midfielder Michael Carrick, one of Solskjaer’s assistants, had taken charge of the team for their Champions League victory at Villarreal last Tuesday, and oversaw the draw with Chelsea. Carrick will remain in charge of the first team until Rangnick’s work visa is finalised.

The disappointment for United will be not holding onto the lead after Aaron Wan-Bissaka caught the back of Thiago Silva’s heel when clearing the ball. Jorginho equalised from a penalty in the 69th minute.

Jorginho had been at fault for the United goal in the 50th minute. Miscontrolling a clearance from United midfielder Bruno Fernandes’ hooked long ball allowed Sancho to seize possession. The 21-year-old forward had the space to race through on goal before slipping a shot past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy that crept inside the right post.

Sancho, who joined in July for 85 million euros (then $100 million), also netted in the win at Villarreal.

Now another positive result after losing five of its last seven league games under Solskjaer has taken United to within five points of West Ham United in the fourth Champions League qualification place.

Not that Carrick, who took the bold decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, was delighted with the performance.

“Disappointed actually,” Carrick told Sky Sports. “When you are in front in a game like this to have it taken away is disappointing. I don’t think it was a penalty at all...I am not getting carried away but I thought we defended well. I cannot fault the boys one bit.”

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, whose side’s lead at the top of the table was cut to one point, said: “I am happy, absolutely happy. I saw a huge effort. We put the pressure up high, we were brave and courageous.”

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2021