“For me, the question was how do we get pressure on the ball, how do we get control?” said Ralf Rangnick in his post-match interview with the BBC.
“So I decided to play 4-2-2-2 with two strikers, not Cristiano [Ronaldo] alone up front, together with Marcus [Rashford], using pace for vertical balls.
“At the same time, with Jadon [Sancho] and Bruno [Fernandes] on the two 10 positions, for the rest [of the players] it was the same.
“We had enough space with Bruno and Jadon in those 10 positions for our full-backs to play forward and ask for the ball on the wing.”
The Manchester United boss continued: “They [Bruno and Sancho] almost played like wing-backs. Especially in the first half, Alex [Telles] and Diogo [Dalot], did extremely well offensively and that’s why I played 4-2-2-2.
“I’m a big fan of every player plays in his best possible position.”
The German added: “The most challenging, demanding positions in that formation [4-2-2-2] are the two 10s but I still think, especially when [Crystal] Palace was in possession, Bruno and Jadon did well.
“It was a little bit new but not that new, it doesn’t make that much difference if Jadon plays a little further inside or outside but defensively, they both did well.”
The Red Devils bagged three crucial points and maintained a clean sheet at Old Trafford for the first time since in April.