Ralf Rangnick could take the easy option. But he admirably hasn't.
Manchester United continue to sink to lower depths and though Rangnick has largely been absolved of most of the blame for their sorry state, it certainly doesn't reflect well on his own ability as a coach. The interim boss has kept and even gained respect from supporters for his agenda-less, no bull, straight-talking honesty on what is wrong at Old Trafford and his reputation as a football administrator is not in question. But his stock as a manager has taken a big hit.
Rangnick could quite easily try to enhance it, as well as strengthen his own position at the club in further ingratiating himself to the fans if he succumbed to their greatest wish: kick the underperforming, uncaring senior players to the kerb and instead give chances to the wealth of exciting talents that are coming through the academy.
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There's nothing left to play for and nothing left to lose, so why not? Why not have an exciting end to the campaign by seeing a lot of promising players get some minutes and see if they are capable of playing at the top level? At least make it a bit interesting.
Well, as Rangnick has repeatedly stated, it could be damaging for their own careers to go into a team at such a low ebb and isn't fair on them. Instead of taking the easy option to bolster his own reputation, he is doing what is best for United's future.
Thursday night's game against Chelsea could be a tempting time to sprinkle a couple of prospects in the starting XI and have a few more on the bench. United's squad is heavily depleted with Fred, Harry Maguire, Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all out. But even still Rangnick isn't giving in to that temptation.
“There will definitely be three or four as part of the squad and on the teamsheet," he told United's in-house media ahead of the game. "But, again, it’s important to give those players a debut when it has to be the right moment for them.
"I don’t think I would do those players a favour if I brought them into not the right game or right moment. It should be a special moment for them but also the right moment for them, in order to perform."
Yet there is always one exception that proves the rule and Rangnick should take it on Thursday night by starting young left-back Alvaro Fernandez.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder and many may not have appreciated how good Luke Shaw actually is until he was ruled out for the rest of the season and Alex Telles had to take his place. The Brazilian had looked promising in shorter bursts since arriving at the club in 2020 but perhaps there was a reason he rarely started, even when Shaw's own form dropped off somewhat following the highs of Euro 2020.
Since there has been little choice but to start him following Shaw's injury, Telles has been dreadful. He may have a good delivery from a set-piece on him, but in open play, he has repeatedly proven incapable at the top level. His positioning is about as disciplined as a dog excited for a walk, only a dog tends to move a bit quicker than a leisurely stroll.
You just need to look at the goals United have conceded recently. Telles has started seven of the last eight Premier League games, in which United have conceded 13 goals. Telles was at fault for nine of them. Nine!
The 29-year-old may not have been the major culprit for all of them, though he certainly made mistakes that contributed, but for the majority he was. Three came against City. He didn't close down Kevin De Bruyne down quickly enough for the opener, he failed to clear his lines for the second and teed up the Belgian to score again and then he played Riyad Mahrez onside for the final goal of the game.
Against Tottenham, he gave away a penalty for handball after turning his back on a cross. When Leicester came to town he didn't bother to challenge Kelechi Iheanacho as he headed in and was also at fault for a goal that was disallowed. Even up against rock bottom Norwich he was out-paced by Teemu Pukki after just five minutes and was woefully positioned for both of the Canaries' goals.
Telles mercifully didn't play against Liverpool. It's scary to think how many more goals they could have scored since they bagged four without him on the pitch but when back in the team against Arsenal he air-kicked at a cross in the first two minutes in the build-up to the opener and then gave away another penalty for a clumsy foul.
When it's put as stark as that it's clear just how appalling Telles has been for United. He may well rank among one of the worst players to play for the club and he's certainly contributed to the almost certain failure to finish in the top four. He really can't play again this season and ideally for the club ever again.
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Rangnick is starved of options, however, with Diogo Dalot the only other fit full-back to face Chelsea, Telles will likely start and make more errors once again. But he doesn't have to.
Fernandez has been making waves in the youth ranks this season. Signed from Real Madrid two years ago the Spaniard has been realising his promise and developing strongly in the academy. He has proven sturdy at the back and a threat going forward, with four goals and six assists to his name this season at Under-23 level, and at 19 he is more than old enough to play in the first team. It's long past time that he should get a chance.
But even if he wasn't that promising, considering what the alternative is anyone would do at this point because it can't get much worse. Rangnick's position is admirable but he should break it in this instance. For everyone's sakes.
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