Ralf Rangnick can't be held responsible as Man Utd face fatal top-four scenario

If Manchester United's players had any doubts about Ralf Rangnick's ruthless side, they were dispelled here with his team selection.

After the abject Champions League display away to Atletico Madrid in midweek, in which teenage winger Anthony Elanga came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 draw, some big names were jettisoned.

Out went skipper Harry Maguire, fellow defender Luke Shaw, out of form forward Marcus Rashford and £73million summer signing Jadon Sancho, whose impressive recent form came to a shuddering halt in the Spanish capital.

Such a brutal cull would never have happened under Rangnick's predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who continued to select the same personnel, week-in, week-out, irrespective of their current form.

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The likes of Maguire, Shaw and Rashford were bulletproof under Solskjaer, but in 90 days in charge at United, Rangnick has shown reputations and profiles count for nothing for him if a player is not performing at the required standard.

Although Rangnick explained the changes as a need for fresh legs, with United playing their third game in six days, with a free week coming up ahead of next Sunday's Manchester derby, there seemed little need to rest players ahead of that encounter.

The message was blunt and brutal - no player is indispensable if they fail to produce on match-day, with Rangnick having dismantled the entitled, protected culture that had been allowed to develop within the squad as Solskjaer's tenure unravelled.

After a magnificent tournament for England at Euro 2020 last summer, Maguire has endured a troubled season for United, poor form and questions about his suitability as captain making for a difficult campaign for the 28-year-old.

His performance against Atletico, where he allowed Joao Felix to get in front of him to plunder the opening goal, exposed his defensive shortcomings, and while Maguire can expect to lead United out against Manchester City in a week's time, there is no doubt there is pressure building on him.

Rashford and Shaw have already felt the consequences of Rangnick's refusal to be swayed by what a player has done in the past, both having lost their places. The same can be said for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, restored to the starting line-up here, but another who lost his automatic pick status following the arrival of United's interim boss.

Rangnick's switches looked to have had the desired effect, certainly early on, although after 20 minutes, United could have been forgiven for wondering if it was going to be one of those days when they created a multitude of chances, only to squander them all.

In that first quarter of the game, Rangnick's side hit a post through Cristiano Ronaldo, who also had a goal correctly disallowed for offside against him. Bruno Fernandes had a shot saved by Ben Foster when he should have squared the ball for Ronaldo to tap-in, United's stand-in skipper then turning a volley wide moments later.

United's profligacy continued in the 26th minute when Ronaldo rounded Foster and chipped the ball to Fernandes, who was unable to direct his far-post header on target.

By the time referee Kevin Friend had blown for half-time, United had registered 10 shots on goal, the wasteful pattern continuing after the break, with Paul Pogba steering the ball wide, another opening fluffed, Elanga the guilty party moments later, another shot missing the target.

Rangnick made the right calls with the team he selected and cannot be held responsible for United's failure to convert any of the slew of chances they created, while Watford deserve credit for their defensive diligence and discipline, which was rewarded with a vital point in their battle for survival.

After this setback in their pursuit of fourth place, the Manchester derby has assumed even greater significance for United, who were booed by sections of their own fans at the end. They must get something from that trip across town and cannot afford many more careless afternoons like this.

With United's next three league games against City, Tottenham and Liverpool, this was one they simply had to win. Their failure to do so could ultimately prove fatal to their top-four hopes.