Jamie Redknapp thinks Ralf Rangnick’s system is holding Jadon Sancho back

Jadon Sancho of Manchester United
Jadon Sancho of Manchester United

Popular pundit Jamie Redknapp believes that Ralf Rangnick’s system at Manchester United is not suitable for the England international winger Jadon Sancho.

The former Liverpool midfielder thinks that Sancho will struggle to fit in at Old Trafford as long as Rangnick continues to employ his 4-2-2-2 system.

“The way Rangnick set up his team, they were never going to get hold of the ball. It was impossible. They haven’t got the players to do that,” the former Liverpool midfielder told Sky Sports.

“You cannot ask Sancho and Greenwood to play the way he played at RB Leipzig… They’ve got to be able to run out to the wide men, then back inside. They have to be so fit, so strong and also comfortable on the ball.

“Greenwood and Sancho are not comfortable at the moment. Sancho looks like he can’t raise a gallop at the moment.

“One thing I worry about him, he looks like he can’t run past anyone. He looks like he hasn’t got that yard of pace. United wingers, if you’re going to be one, you’ve got to be able to run with the ball. That is a major problem with that system.”

The system demands quick and hard-working wingers, but Sancho is neither electric in terms of pace nor is he used to carrying out defensive responsibilities.

Defensively it is a similar situation with Mason Greenwood as well. Still, the Manchester United Academy graduate is quicker than Sancho, and his piece has proven to be useful in Premier League at times for the Red Devils.

 It will be interesting to see whether the German manager is willing to alter his system in order to accommodate Sancho and get the best out of the former Dortmund winger.

There is no doubt that the England international is a top-class talent who has the potential to develop into a world-class footballer with experience and coaching.

Sancho has had a difficult time since his move to Old Trafford, and he has managed to score just two goals in 22 appearances across all competitions. A player of his calibre was expected to perform far better especially given the amount of money the Red Devils spent on him.

Manchester United reportedly paid a fee of around £73 million to sign the player from Borussia Dortmund last summer.