Rangers head into Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Manchester United with plenty giving them a chance of doing something.
That’s because the Red Devils or in awful form and sit 13th in the Premier League, with manager Ruben Amorim recently branding them the worst Manchester United team ever.
That was off the back of a 3-1 besting by Brighton and they have just one win from their last six league games. Since taking over, the Portuguese boss’ Premier League record reads: P11 W3 D2 L6.
Rangers do not have a good record against English sides, including United, but the recent struggles at Old Trafford is something that can provide hope.
On top of that, their own performances in the Europa League are another factor.
There was obviously the draw against Tottenham which proves a capability to go toe-to-toe with a Premier League giant, even if it was at Gers’ home. But thrashing the likes of Nice and getting a draw with Olympiacos are no mean feats either.
United know what they are up against with one of their players highlighting Hamza Igamane as a Rangers dangerman.
It will certainly be an intriguing encounter on Thursday night but the consensus is that it won’t be the complete mismatch it once would have been.
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Ferguson urges Rangers no fear approach
Barry Ferguson reckons the Man United players may be fragile after the public criticism from their manager and so it may be the perfect time to play them.
Sure, there is a chance it could go the opposite way and fire them up for the Rangers encounter.
But he feels many of the squad are struggling with the intensity of playing for such a great club and could retreat further into their shells as a result of Amorim’s comments.
For that reason, he is urging Gers to get “in their faces.”
Writing for the Daily Record, Fergie said: “When Amorim called his team the worst Man United side in history following the weekend defeat at home to Brighton, his words caused absolute shockwaves. Regardless of whether you think the guy was simply being truthful or, instead, if it was an attempt at reverse psychology to get a reaction from inside his own dressing room, it doesn’t really matter.
“There will have been players in there who will not have appreciated him being so candid so publicly. And it will be fascinating to see what their response looks like when Rangers come to town. Amorim has a point.
“But that doesn’t mean his United squad isn’t packed with top class talent. Of course it is – one look at the squad list will tell you that.
“But – and this is a big BUT – I do wonder if some of these guys are really struggling to cope with the pressures of playing for such a huge institution.
“If I’m right – and these guys are genuinely struggling with the demands that come with the jersey – then this could be perfectly set up for Rangers to pile on the misery, in front of a home support which is running out of patience with these players almost as quickly as Amorim.
“If Rangers can get in their faces from the start and knock them out of their stride then I don’t imagine that the reaction from more than 70,000 in the stands will be very pretty.
“Don’t get me wrong, Clement and his players will know what they are coming up against in this tie – a highly dangerous group of players whose pride has been stung. So it’s not about going down there and throwing caution to the wind just because you know they can be got at.
“No, Rangers will need to be structured, disciplined and tight in everything they do because they could be walking into a backlash.”
Six Rangers stars who can make the difference
But Rangers have players of their own who can cause the English side some problems, Ferguson feels.
They may be vulnerable at the back and that means the attacking trio of Vaclav Cerny, Nedim Bajrami and Hamza Igamane can get at them.
While the midfield battle will be important and he expects to see Nico Raskin, Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande start and have a big say.
He added: “But I do believe they can do some damage to United in the final third with the likes of Vaclav Cerny, Nedim Bajrami and Hamza Igamane.
“I also think Amorim’s preferred style of play leaves United at risk of being overrun in the middle of the pitch, where he relies on just two central midfielders.
“With Nico Raskin, Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande in that area, Rangers have the legs and energy to exploit that potential weakness in United’s system.
“They just need to be wary at the back because, despite Amorim’s assessment, they still have players with the calibre to hurt you. But, let’s be honest, this is not the Man Utd we were all brought up on.”
