Manchester United are struggling for form ahead of their Europa League match against Rangers this week.
Following a 3-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford, the Red Devils are in a difficult patch, with new manager Ruben Amorim already feeling the pressure.
Rangers, always a formidable side in the Europa League, are seen as potential underdogs, and it would be brave to rule out Philippe Clement’s young squad from causing an upset this week.
One player in the Manchester United dressing room has highlighted a Rangers star that everyone is keen to silence.
Manchester United player targets Rangers standout Noussair Mazraoui’s move to Manchester United in the summer hasn’t gone entirely according to plan. With the Red Devils currently in 13th place in the Premier League, Mazraoui, who joined from Bayern Munich for £17m, has struggled to make an impact.
Ahead of the Europa League clash with Rangers, the 27-year-old Moroccan international spoke about one particular Rangers player who’s been on everyone’s mind.
Mazraoui revealed that Hamza Igamane is the talk of the Manchester United dressing room, with everyone fully aware of the talent he possesses.
“The people in Morocco are talking about Igamane’s goals in Scotland,” Mazraoui said, as quoted by the Daily Record. “It’s not easy to score in a good league, so it shows he’s doing well at Rangers. It wouldn’t be surprising if he made it to the national team, but it’s up to the coach.
“Stopping Igamane is one of our challenges. He’s been excellent for Rangers. Our defenders will need to focus on him and avoid giving him space in the penalty area. That will be really important.”
Rangers ‘deserve’ Europa League progression Mazraoui also discussed the challenge of Manchester United defeating Rangers in the Europa League this week.
Rangers currently sit 8th in the Europa League table, just one point and one place behind Manchester United in 7th. Both teams currently occupy qualification spots for the last 16, with the final standings to be decided by the last two games of the revamped league phase.
Mazraoui believes Rangers “deserve” to qualify based on their impressive Europa League form this season but emphasized that Manchester United is focused on securing a victory over the Gers.
“The team has regained its confidence after our recent performances in the FA Cup and Premier League,” Mazraoui said. “Now we need to carry that into the Europa League against Rangers. We’re optimistic about getting three points at home.
“It will be an intense match between two British teams, and we’re very equal in the table. But playing at Old Trafford should be a big advantage for us.
“Rangers have an excellent squad with players who can cause problems for any team. I expect them to qualify for the next round. They deserve it for their efforts in the first six games.
“Our history and the expectations of Manchester United supporters demand that we improve this season, and the Europa League is one of our goals. But for now, all we’re focused on is defeating Rangers.”
