Man Utd 2-1 Rangers: 'Hurt and hope for Clement as side fight adversity'

Before the match, the media praised Glasgow Rangers, calling their resurgence a rebirth. The team overcame injury troubles, deployed two young players, and despite gifting Manchester United a goal, they fought on with belief and even scored.

Cyriel Dessers seems to possess a "Teflon" quality, able to withstand criticism. He has endured a torrent of criticism and abuse during his several seasons with Rangers, feeling abandoned by fans even before settling into his new home. Yet, it was Dessers who equalized at Old Trafford as the match drew to a close.

He received an over-the-top pass, controlled the ball with his right foot on the first touch, turned, and then with his left foot on the second touch, fired it into the Manchester United net. Harry Maguire was left ashamed, the home fans were furious, and Rangers were ecstatic. In the circumstances, a point would have been like a victory, but ultimately they got neither a point nor a win.

A moment of hesitation in the Rangers defense allowed Bruno Fernandes to seize the opportunity and rescue his team. Every player on the Rangers team wore the pain on their face. They were so close to a great result, yet so far away. However, UEFA confirmed that Rangers had done enough to qualify for the knockout stages, providing some consolation, and they will play their final group game next Thursday against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise.

The match was a tough battle for Rangers, but they showed a clear purpose and determination, even as Manchester United threatened to overwhelm them at times. At the end of the first half, the score was still 0-0, and Rangers showed encouraging momentum. Philippe Clement went over to the injured center-back Leon Balogun to inquire about his condition. It was not good news, and Balogun did not return to the field. Rangers faced a whole new challenge.

James Tavernier moved from right-back to right center-back, while Ridvan Yilmaz, who had been on the left side of midfield, moved to right-back. Clement made adjustments, perhaps even praying. 18-year-old young player Bailey Rice entered the game. He had previously only played against Nice, Fraserburgh, Motherwell, and St Mirren. Now, he had to face Christian Eriksen and Fernandes directly in the Europa League, undoubtedly a severe test.

Rice could have had more time to adjust to the pace of the game, but that was not to be. Shortly after the start of the second half, Jack Butland punched Eriksen’s corner kick into his own net. It might not have hurt so much if they had been beaten by the opposition's skill. But this goal was an unexpected "gift."

Before that, Old Trafford had been relatively quiet. Rangers' focus was high, and their intensity was the same as when they played against Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United also had chances, but a goal was disallowed for a foul that few people saw. Rangers also had opportunities, with Nico Raskin, Yilmaz, and Hamza Igamane reminding the home side that, despite their possession advantage, Rangers still had a strong fighting spirit. Clement should have been pleased at halftime.

Banners commemorating Denis Law and Sir Alex Ferguson hung in Old Trafford, looking imposing. However, the atmosphere in the stadium was not, with the home fans making no noise and showing no intimidation. "Glory and Honor," "The Only Love Stretford End," "Manchester is My Heaven." These slogans adorned the stands but showed no glory, honor, or love until Butland put the ball into his own net.

Suddenly, the volume was turned up. Manchester United's attacks looked more convincing, though they wasted several chances when they arose. They created several good opportunities but didn't score their second goal until late in the game. Butland made saves, and his defenders made blocks, ensuring that the Rangers' night did not get any worse. Findlay Curtis also came on, another 18-year-old. He made his debut on Sunday against Fraserburgh, and on Thursday he made his Europa League debut. Rice and Curtis must have felt like kids at Christmas.

There has been much talk about the Old Firm not developing young players, but Clement can now offer some strong rebuttals to those criticisms. Rice and Curtis came on because other players were injured, but they were there. Clement has a young team, and he is doing his best to buy time to mold them into a resilient unit. Of course, patience is rare in Glasgow.

Late in the game, Rice played a brilliant pass, and Dessers was through one-on-one with Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir. He chipped the ball over the keeper, but it hit the post. He might have been offside, but that didn't diminish the home fans' anger. Their reaction was deafening. We could not have predicted that Dessers would attack again, this time scoring like the greatest Rangers forwards. He has scored 17 goals this season, and over 20 last season. Not bad shooting for what some Rangers fans call a "flop."

Fernandes ultimately decided the outcome of the match, and Rangers will be frustrated by that. Although the goal was excellent, it could have been avoided. It will hurt, but it will also give Clement hope. His players fought hard in adversity. He saw character from his players. They didn't get the points, but they have a foundation to build on.