Rangers let bang average Man Utd off the hook after Amorim’s comments – losing that game was UNFORGIVABLE, writes Leckie

PHILIPPE CLEMENT didn’t need to write a team talk for this one. Just play a recording of Ruben Amorim’s press conference from the day before and his work was done. AlamyRuben Amorim tore into his players pre-match[/caption] John Kirkby - The Sun GlasgowBill Leckie reckons the Red Devils were there for the taking[/caption] PADejected Jefte at full-time[/caption] My team are too anxious on the ball, the Portuguese said. It’s getting harder all the time for them to play at home, he’d admitted. If we keep losing early goals, he’d shrugged, we’ll never get out of this mess. Talk about feeding your own team’s paranoia? Talk about teeing up yet another home defeat? United had lost six here already this season – and Rangers will surely wake up this morning absolutely raging with themselves for not making it seven. Sure, they’re still in great shape to make the play-offs for a Europe League knockout spot despite this defeat. But the fact is, it could and probably should have been a draw at very least. Jack Butland’s punch into his own net for the opening goal was inexplicable. Not holding out for a draw after Cyriel Dessers came off the bench to equalise on 88 minutes? Sorry, but at this level that’s unforgiveable against opposition who were absolutely there for the taking and whose gaffer had all but flashed up a neon sign TELLING the Ibrox men how to beat them. At lunchtime on Wednesday, his voice laden with despair, Amorim had reminded the world that this gang of a United side have already shipped the opener in the second, third, fourth and fifth minutes of catastrophic losses here. Cue the very opposite of the backs to the wall tactics Walter Smith had employed to eke out a 0-0 Champions League draw here 15 years back, as Clement pushed four blue shirts up on a thin red line every time they tried to play out from the back, history should have repeated in the ninth. It was a brave mindset that created 24-carat golden chances in the ninth and 11 minutes, first Nico Raskin and then Ridvan Yilmaz given the kind of time and space that Liverpool, Spurs, Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth and Newcastle have all accepted gleefully these past few, chaotic months. But where Salah and Isak, Wood and Solanke and more held their nerve and silence the Stretford End, here first Raskin and then Yilmaz lacked that extra ounce of composure that’s needed at the highest level. The Belgian, played in by Hamza Igamane as Clement’s high-pressing ploy bullied young Toby Collyer into a mistake, stubbed his toe and let keeper Altay Bayindir off the hook. The Turkish full-back, released by James Tavernier’s beautifully-flighted pass, shinned his volley straight into the grateful arms of his countryman. How they rated Jack Butland Back in the team after injury and produced a howler when he punched into his own net. Dejected at mistake but made big saves in both halves.6 James Tavernier Tough test against Alejandro Garnacho in the first half and then shifted into central defence. Never looked flustered as he kept team together and claimed assist for goal.7 Leon Balogun Steady first half as he coped well with United striker Joshua Zirkzee but picked up an ankle injury before break and never reappeared for the second period.5 Robin Propper Dutchman got lucky when he won a soft foul as Matthijs de Ligt’s header was disallowed. Cleared a Garnacho shot off the line but could have been stronger at times.6 Jefte Brazilian was asked to shackle United’s main man Diallo and did okay before being booked. Fell asleep as Bruno Fernandes stole in to win it.5 Connor Barron Snapped into tackles as he got a chance to shine with Mohamed Diomande banned. Took a sore one in a challenge with Diogo Dalot and was forced off at break.5 Nico Raskin Fluffed a glorious early chance when he took a heavy touch after being played through, but was disciplined on a night when a lot was asked of him.7 Vaclav Cerny Frustrated at not seeing enough of the ball in the first half but tested Altay Bayindir early in the second period. Limped off around the hour-mark in a major blow.5 Nedim Bajrami Played as a No10 but aside from one terrific first-half pass, he never managed to impact the game in the final third and struggled before being subbed.5 Ridvan Yilmaz Turkish full-back played higher on the left wing and his first-time volley forced a save from  Bayindir. Moved to right-back and had a tough time against Garnacho.6 Hamza Igamane Moroccan kid looked at home on this stage but showed talent when he did get on the ball. Lovely pass for Raskin chance and was unlucky with a deflected shot.7 SUBS: BAILEY RICE (6) 18-year-old replaced Barron and fired over with first touch. Looked assured. ROSS McCAUSLAND (5) on for the crocked Balogun and worked hard on the left. FINDLAY C

Jan 23, 2025 - 19:00
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Rangers let bang average Man Utd off the hook after Amorim’s comments – losing that game was UNFORGIVABLE, writes Leckie

PHILIPPE CLEMENT didn’t need to write a team talk for this one.

Just play a recording of Ruben Amorim’s press conference from the day before and his work was done.

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United head coach, at Old Trafford.
Alamy
Ruben Amorim tore into his players pre-match[/caption]
Photo of Bill Leckie.
John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow
Bill Leckie reckons the Red Devils were there for the taking[/caption]
Jefte of Rangers F.C. at a UEFA Europa League match.
PA
Dejected Jefte at full-time[/caption]

My team are too anxious on the ball, the Portuguese said. It’s getting harder all the time for them to play at home, he’d admitted.

If we keep losing early goals, he’d shrugged, we’ll never get out of this mess.

Talk about feeding your own team’s paranoia?

Talk about teeing up yet another home defeat?

United had lost six here already this season – and Rangers will surely wake up this morning absolutely raging with themselves for not making it seven.

Sure, they’re still in great shape to make the play-offs for a Europe League knockout spot despite this defeat. But the fact is, it could and probably should have been a draw at very least.

Jack Butland’s punch into his own net for the opening goal was inexplicable.

Not holding out for a draw after Cyriel Dessers came off the bench to equalise on 88 minutes?

Sorry, but at this level that’s unforgiveable against opposition who were absolutely there for the taking and whose gaffer had all but flashed up a neon sign TELLING the Ibrox men how to beat them.

At lunchtime on Wednesday, his voice laden with despair, Amorim had reminded the world that this gang of a United side have already shipped the opener in the second, third, fourth and fifth minutes of catastrophic losses here.

Cue the very opposite of the backs to the wall tactics Walter Smith had employed to eke out a 0-0 Champions League draw here 15 years back, as Clement pushed four blue shirts up on a thin red line every time they tried to play out from the back, history should have repeated in the ninth.

It was a brave mindset that created 24-carat golden chances in the ninth and 11 minutes, first Nico Raskin and then Ridvan Yilmaz given the kind of time and space that Liverpool, Spurs, Forest, Brighton, Bournemouth and Newcastle have all accepted gleefully these past few, chaotic months.

But where Salah and Isak, Wood and Solanke and more held their nerve and silence the Stretford End, here first Raskin and then Yilmaz lacked that extra ounce of composure that’s needed at the highest level.

The Belgian, played in by Hamza Igamane as Clement’s high-pressing ploy bullied young Toby Collyer into a mistake, stubbed his toe and let keeper Altay Bayindir off the hook. The Turkish full-back, released by James Tavernier’s beautifully-flighted pass, shinned his volley straight into the grateful arms of his countryman.

How they rated

Jack Butland

Back in the team after injury and produced a howler when he punched into his own net. Dejected at mistake but made big saves in both halves.6

James Tavernier

Tough test against Alejandro Garnacho in the first half and then shifted into central defence. Never looked flustered as he kept team together and claimed assist for goal.7

Leon Balogun

Steady first half as he coped well with United striker Joshua Zirkzee but picked up an ankle injury before break and never reappeared for the second period.5

Robin Propper

Dutchman got lucky when he won a soft foul as Matthijs de Ligt’s header was disallowed. Cleared a Garnacho shot off the line but could have been stronger at times.6

Jefte

Brazilian was asked to shackle United’s main man Diallo and did okay before being booked. Fell asleep as Bruno Fernandes stole in to win it.5

Connor Barron

Snapped into tackles as he got a chance to shine with Mohamed Diomande banned. Took a sore one in a challenge with Diogo Dalot and was forced off at break.5

Nico Raskin

Fluffed a glorious early chance when he took a heavy touch after being played through, but was disciplined on a night when a lot was asked of him.7

Vaclav Cerny

Frustrated at not seeing enough of the ball in the first half but tested Altay Bayindir early in the second period. Limped off around the hour-mark in a major blow.5

Nedim Bajrami

Played as a No10 but aside from one terrific first-half pass, he never managed to impact the game in the final third and struggled before being subbed.5

Ridvan Yilmaz

Turkish full-back played higher on the left wing and his first-time volley forced a save from  Bayindir. Moved to right-back and had a tough time against Garnacho.6

Hamza Igamane

Moroccan kid looked at home on this stage but showed talent when he did get on the ball. Lovely pass for Raskin chance and was unlucky with a deflected shot.7

SUBS: BAILEY RICE (6) 18-year-old replaced Barron and fired over with first touch. Looked assured. ROSS McCAUSLAND (5) on for the crocked Balogun and worked hard on the left. FINDLAY CURTIS (5) dream chance for the teen and was bright. CYRIEL DESSERS (7) sublime touch and finish. LEON KING (2) on late.

Had they gone 1-0 that early, never mind 2-0, this place might have imploded. All Amorim’s worst nightmares would have become reality. Sir Alex, sitting up in the posh seats, might just have run down and personally chased the young pretender out of town there and then.

They let a bang ordinary outfit off the hook, though.

When Butland, the keeper they’d signed after a season at Old Trafford sitting on his hands and who’d made a string of top-drawer saves on his return, somehow punched a corner into his own net early in the second, it was a devastating blow.

When Dessers, so often the fall guy in front of goals, buried the leveller like the coolest cat in the place, they were back off the canvas and dreaming of maybe finishing off opposition whose knees were quaking.

So when, two minutes into stoppage time, they switched off and let Bruno Fernandes give the home side a victory they barely deserved?

There was your knockout punch.

Cyriel Dessers of Rangers celebrating a goal.
Getty
Cyriel Dessers pulled one back for Gers late on[/caption]

Like I say, it might not matter. Do the business at home to Union St Gilloise next week and they’ll be dancing in the streets of Govan.

Yet still…well, they knew before a ball was kicked what was possible. They then saw for themselves in those opening minutes just how right Amorim had been, no matter how unpopular has honesty has made him with some people.

They knew this mess of an excuse for what Fergie once reigned over were there for the taking; that this, like their exhilarating draw at home to Spurs last time out, was a night with the potential to show the world that they CAN be far better than their domestic toils suggest.

Sure, they can point to the loss of the suspended Mo Diomande, existing injuries to key men like John Souttar and fresh ones here to Connor Barron, Leon Balogun and Vaclav Cerny. They can remind us that 18-year-old Bailey Rice and Findlay Curtis had to come and do the jobs of grown men.

Truth is, though, they were never under siege here. They were never hanging on.

And as they took the cheers of that travelling arm, you could see it in their eyes.

They KNOW what a chance they’d let slip.

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