It’s futile to discuss springboards for Manchester United; we’ve been down this road before. Each time they believe they’ve established a foundation, they end up diving headfirst into shallow waters, fully clothed.
In these rocky early weeks under manager Ruben Amorim, the focus is on avoiding disaster and ensuring that all the dressing room televisions remain intact.
After a tense extra five minutes that followed a largely uneventful 90, United managed to secure a crucial win.
As 3,500 traveling Rangers fans celebrated a late equalizer, Amorim and his players stood in silence, searching for some mythical code of sportsmanship that prevents self-sabotage—something that stops mundane games from turning into spectacles of embarrassment.
Rangers, likely a mid-tier English Championship team, were missing eight players and had two inexperienced teenagers on the field by the match’s end. Young Findlay Curtis, just 18, had previously played only once for his club, making this a significant step up for him.
With two minutes of added time already gone, United found themselves in a precarious position—until captain Bruno Fernandes changed everything.
Fernandes delivered a stoppage-time winner, securing three points for Manchester United against Rangers. He expertly converted a Lisandro Martinez cross in the final moments at Old Trafford.
Despite facing criticism for his behavior and leadership, Fernandes is an exceptional talent. His timing to evade a blue-shirted defender and half-volley Martinez’s chipped pass into the goal was impeccable, providing his team with a much-needed victory that staved off another crisis—at least until their Premier League matchup against Fulham on Sunday night.
That game will present a tougher challenge. Fulham is a well-organized team, significantly better than a Rangers side trailing Celtic by thirteen points in the SPL.
Right now, for United, it’s about taking one step at a time—avoiding missteps. It’s pointless for Amorim and his players to look too far ahead; every time they do, the fog seems to thicken.
As the hour mark approached, the atmosphere was surprisingly calm, despite the impending storms. Rangers had troubled United early on, but both chances were squandered, highlighting United’s sloppy start.
Matthijs de Ligt had a goal disallowed for a foul that few noticed, but United began to control possession, even if they didn’t threaten to ignite the crowd.
In the 52nd minute, the game took a pivotal turn when Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland, attempting to clear a Christian Eriksen corner, inadvertently punched the ball into his own net.
Butland, who once played for England, had moments of brilliance throughout the match but his blunder was costly. Only young United midfielder Toby Collyer was near him, and he certainly wasn’t fouling the keeper. Butland’s frustration was evident as he pounded the ground in disbelief.
Rangers fought hard throughout the contest, even as fatigue set in. Their manager, Philippe Clement, has faced challenges this season, but his players remained committed, knowing they always had a chance if they stayed in the game.
Harry Maguire, who came on as a half-time substitute, missed an opportunity to double United’s lead with a free header. As the match wore on, United appeared increasingly nervous, yet we wouldn’t have expected their former captain to be among the afflicted.