Manchester United saw their hopes of FA Cup glory ended by Middlesbrough on Friday night, losing in a dramatic penalty shootout. Jadon Sancho put the hosts ahead in the first half, with Matt Crooks then levelling. But the Red Devils ended up slumping to defeat and, now, Express Sport will now take a look at five things we learned from the contest.
Sancho starts to come good
It’s been a difficult first season back in England for Jadon Sancho.
Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a massive £73million, just one Premier League goal so far isn’t good enough.
Sancho has, however, started to come good under Rangnick with the England international scoring in the first half following a direct darting run.
With Mason Greenwood out of action, and Amad and Anthony Martial leaving on loan, United need their No 25 to come good.
The signs, on that front, are starting to look promising.
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Don’t deprive fans of food or drink
Football fans don’t usually unite behind one cause while their respective teams are playing.
Yet they did at Old Trafford when it was announced the club wouldn’t be selling food or drink at the interval.
Amusingly, all fans inside the ground booed this development. Luckily, there are a few bars nearby to quench their thirst and hunger once the game is done.
United fans also used it as another reason to call for the Glazers to go.
Not that they needed any more…
United have left themselves short
With United looking to win the game, Rangnick was forced to throw on Juan Mata.
It was his only option after Sancho was forced to hobble out of the battle and speaks volumes about the club’s decision-making.
Mata is a good professional but his best years are behind him. That’s why he’s not played in the Premier League this term.
United loaned out both Amad and Anthony Martial in the January transfer window.
Now, they’ve been left short.
United have never been further away
United are just as far behind the elite as they were when they sacked David Moyes back in 2014.
In fact, it could be argued they’re getting worse.
Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho both won trophies at Old Trafford but never got near the big ones. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, too, failed to turn the club around.
Now, the challenge at United is just getting harder.
Whether they can save their season, after such a big setback, remains to be seen.
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