Ferguson questions Manchester United players’ mentality ahead of Rangers clash
Barry Ferguson has questioned whether the Manchester United players are struggling to cope with the pressures of playing for a “huge institution” ahead of their Europa League clash with Rangers.
Rangers travel to Old Trafford on Thursday evening (23 January) to face a United side that have badly struggled in the Premier League this season.
The Red Devils are struggling to find any form of consistency in terms of performances and results, with Ferguson, writing for the Daily Record [22 January], questioning the mental side of the squad.
“I do wonder if some of these guys are really struggling to cope with the pressures of playing for such a huge institution,” said Ferguson.
“I’ve watched a lot of their games recently and there’s no doubt they raised their level in recent matches away to Liverpool and Arsenal.
“But I always believed those huge occasions looked after themselves. At Rangers, it was easy to get up for Old Firm derbies or big European nights.
“The hard bit, for some, was to have the same mentality and approach going into a midweek at places like Fir Park or Rugby Park. And this United side may be suffering from the same kind of issues.”
Rangers have it in them to secure victory at Old Trafford
Both sides are enduring a rough season in their respective leagues, with Rangers 13 points from the summit while United are closer to the bottom three than they are the top four.
An encounter at Old Trafford always used to be a daunting prospect for any side, but with the lack of form and discontent among the fanbase, Rangers certainly have enough in the tank to cause somewhat of an upset.
Of course, the Gers will still need to be at their best to achieve that, with plenty of United stars capable of inflicting damage, but the same can be said about Philippe Clement’s side.
Hamza Igamane can play a crucial role in breaking down the United defence, but solidity at the back will be paramount to any result obtained.
It promises to be an interesting encounter that could certainly go either way.
In other Rangers news, Ryan Jack gave his reaction to the latest transfer move.
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