{"id":77798,"date":"2022-05-03T22:22:52","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T22:22:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=77798"},"modified":"2022-05-03T22:22:52","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T22:22:52","slug":"man-utd-stroll-takes-sting-out-of-fan-protest-against-glazers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=77798","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd stroll takes sting out of fan protest against Glazers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> Manchester United took the sting out of their fans' latest protest against the Glazer family as they eased to a 3-0 win against Brentford on Monday.<\/p>\n

Ahead of a summer of change for troubled United, Ralf Rangnick's side won for just the second time in seven games to keep the atmosphere from turning toxic at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n

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Bruno Fernandes struck early in the first half and Cristiano Ronaldo converted a second half penalty before France defender Raphael Varane bagged his first goal for United.<\/p>\n

Despite winning their last home game of the season, United remain in sixth place in the Premier League with two games left.<\/p>\n

They sit five points adrift of the top four with no realistic hope of qualifying for next season's Champions League.<\/p>\n

Fittingly, it was under grey, rain-filled skies that fans protested against despised owners the Glazers for a third successive home match.<\/p>\n

Outside the stadium before kick-off, a group of supporters held up anti-Glazer banners, set off red smoke bombs and made offensive chants about the club's owners.<\/p>\n

United fans had been urged by the protesters to leave the stadium with 17 minutes left in the match — one minute for every year the United States-based Glazers have owned the club.<\/p>\n

But that idea proved a damp squib as only a handful left their seats.<\/p>\n

There were more empty seats by the time United embarked on a post-match lap of appreciation, but no overt signs of dissent towards their underachieving stars.<\/p>\n

“In possession that was one of our best performances this year. It was the type of performance we wanted to show to our supporters,” Rangnick said.<\/p>\n

Regardless, there is no doubting the overall level of frustration at another trophyless season for United, who haven't won the Premier League since 2013 and last lifted a major trophy five years ago.<\/p>\n

– ‘Lacked consistency' –<\/p>\n

Aside from a few scathing comments about the club's direction, Rangnick has done little to jolt United out of their malaise since replacing the sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.<\/p>\n

“In the end I'm not happy with the results, especially in the last four or five weeks. In general we have lacked consistency,” Rangnick said.<\/p>\n

“It's obvious quite a few players will leave and there is a need for top quality players.<\/p>\n

“Other clubs only needed two or three transfer windows to challenge. I strongly believe that if everyone works together we can bring Man Utd back to where we need to be.”<\/p>\n

Rangnick was in charge of his last home game as United interim manager before the recently-hired Erik ten Hag arrives from Ajax to start his rebuilding job next season.<\/p>\n

After such a wretched run, United needed a fast start to lift the gloom a little and they took just nine minutes to go in front.<\/p>\n

Anthony Elanga beat Brentford's offside trap as he raced onto Diogo Dalot's pass.<\/p>\n

He reached the ball just before it went out for a goal-kick and whipped a superb cross towards Fernandes, who volleyed home from six yards for his first league goal since February.<\/p>\n

After several listless displays, this was a more energetic effort from United and Juan Mata fired narrowly wide from Ronaldo's flamboyant pass.<\/p>\n

Ronaldo won a penalty in the 60th minute as he powered past Rico Henry and was crudely barged to the turf by the Brentford defender.<\/p>\n

Picking himself up, Ronaldo sent David Raya the wrong way from the spot.<\/p>\n

The Portugal striker has scored nine of United's last 11 league goals, taking his tally for the season to 24 in all competitions.<\/p>\n

With the United fans' much-hyped walk-out just seconds away, Varane volleyed the third goal from a corner in the 72nd minute.<\/p>\n

That appeared to take the sting out of the revolt, with Mata and Nemanja Matic — both likely to leave in the close-season — departing to standing ovations when they were substituted.<\/p>\n

It was a rare feelgood moment in a season of strife at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: Manchester United took the sting out of their fans’ latest protest against the Glazer family as they eased to a 3-0 win against Brentford on Monday. Ahead of a summer of change for troubled United, Ralf Rangnick’s side won for just the second time in seven games to keep the atmosphere from turning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":77799,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n