'They have the talent': Ruben Amorim highlights two Rangers players Man United must be wary of
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After a flurry of questions about Manchester United’s failings, there were a few brief minutes dedicated to Thursday night’s Europa League opponents Rangers during Ruben Amorim’s pre-match press conference.
Rather than focus on the penultimate match of the tournament’s revamped first phase, much of Wednesday’s presser felt like an autopsy of that Brighton and Hove Albion reverse three days earlier.
Manchester United lost at Old Trafford for the fourth time in five matches in all competitions. The odds on Rangers picking up a famous result on the most hallowed turf in English football, then, will have shortened pretty dramatically after Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Brighton stunned Ruben Amorim’s beleaguered side on home soil.
Even Southampton – rock bottom, five-point Southampton – should have had the three points wrapped up before a heroic late hat-trick from one-time Rangers loanee Amad Diallo.
And Amorim, when the conversation finally turned to the task at hand, is certainly not taking the threat of Rangers lightly.
Ruben Amorim wary of Rangers’ full-back threat ahead of Manchester United clash
Former Ibrox prospect Ross McCormack thinks Vaclav Cerny, Ianis Hagi and Hamza Igamane may strike fear into the hearts of a Man United defence breached three times by Brighton last time out.
Cerny and Hagi could certainly wreak havoc in behind those wing-backs in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, while fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur know all about Igamane’s thrilling blend of skill and power following December’s 1-1 draw in Glasgow.
“We expect a tough match with a lot of physicality,” Amorim tells the media. “I know some players, important Rangers players [cannot] play, and we have to know the new players, to understand the way they play.”
Rangers will be without the likes of John Souttar. Jack Butland and Tom Lawrence were back in training on Wednesday, though the Man United clash could come too soon.
And while much focus has been placed on the wing-backs in Amorim’s system, Rangers’ own flying full-backs could yet play a major role themselves in this latest edition of the so-called ‘Battle of Britain’.
James Tavernier may no longer be the same all-action, Europa League Golden Boot-winning force of old but he still possesses the technical talents to create something out of nothing.
Jefte’s ‘brilliant’ recent form has his Rangers critics performing U-turns, meanwhile. A Man United side relatively low on pace and running power may struggle to cope if Jefte is at his buccaneering best down the left-hand flank.
Amorim shows solidarity with Rangers boss Philippe Clement
“The full-backs are really high on the pitch,” Amorim adds. “They have talent to score in the final third. It’s one more difficult game.
“It’s important to us as we want to skip play-off so we have time to train so I expect the same things that we faced in the last games. A tough match with a lot of physicality, also the fans of Rangers making some noise. We are prepared and we want to win.”
Amorim also feels sympathy with his opposite number. Man United’s newest head coach knows first-hand how crushing the pressure can be at a club burdened with such history and expectation.
“Rangers are a massive club who have won a lot. It’s really hard for a coach at every club,” the former Sporting Lisbon tactician adds. “I feel the pain of the Rangers coach.”
