Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim has come out to make it clear that €50 million signing has seized to be in his plans for the club following an abysmal performance in the Europa League clash against Rangers.
Manchester United secured a hard-fought victory over Rangers in the Europa League with a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Old Trafford. Although the performance left room for improvement, the Red Devils managed to claim all three points despite a late scare from the visitors.
United appeared to take an early lead when Matthijs de Ligt found the net with a header from a corner, but the goal was controversially disallowed for an alleged foul by Leny Yoro. However, they eventually went ahead early in the second half when Jack Butland made a costly error, punching a corner into his own net under little pressure. Rangers fought back and found an equaliser through Cyriel Dessers late in the game, but Bruno Fernandes responded almost immediately, securing a crucial win for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Altay Bayindir delivered a solid performance, making an important save to deny Igamane’s deflected shot that seemed destined for the bottom corner. He handled most of the threats from the opposition well and had little chance of stopping Rangers’ late goal. Leny Yoro showed good defensive awareness by cutting off passing options and breaking up attacks, but his passing could have been sharper. He was replaced before the hour mark. Matthijs de Ligt had a mixed outing, nearly gifting Rangers an early chance with a poor back pass but later having a goal disallowed. He was taken off at halftime.
Lisandro Martinez impressed with his aggressive approach, pushing forward to aid the attack while also fulfilling his defensive responsibilities. He tested the goalkeeper with a powerful shot before halftime and provided a brilliant assist for the decisive goal. Diogo Dalot struggled to find his rhythm, showing lapses in composure and failing to make meaningful contributions at either end of the pitch. Toby Collyer started nervously, losing possession in a dangerous area but eventually settled into the game, maintaining control in midfield.
Bruno Fernandes played a deeper role alongside Collyer and was instrumental in dictating play with his passing range. He rose to the occasion by scoring the late winner, showing true leadership. Christian Eriksen, operating behind the striker, was quiet in the opening stages but grew into the match, playing a key role in United’s opener with a well-delivered corner that led to Butland’s blunder. Amad struggled initially but found his rhythm in the second half, linking up well with teammates despite missing a golden opportunity to score before the break.
Alejandro Garnacho was lively throughout, showing his attacking intent with dangerous runs from the wing. He came close to scoring but was denied by the post, standing out as one of United’s top performers on the night. Joshua Zirkzee, on the other hand, had a disappointing game, failing to pose a real threat in front of goal and was eventually substituted for Rasmus Hojlund.
Among the substitutes, Harry Maguire missed a clear chance to extend United’s lead and was caught off guard for Rangers’ equaliser. Tyrell Malacia put in a steady display after coming on, while Manuel Ugarte added stability in midfield during the final stages. Kobbie Mainoo also contributed after being introduced late in the game.
