Wes Brown tells Manchester United stars what they must do to avoid disappointment against Rangers, it’s the bare minimum

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Wes Brown believes Rangers couldn’t meet Manchester United at a better time.

Manchester United are going through struggles domestically this season as they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Although the Reds are unbeaten in the Europa League, Rangers will be looking to play with ambition at Old Trafford, like Brighton did in their 3-1 win on Sunday.

Ruben Amorim described United in the wake of their recent defeat as ‘maybe the worst’ team in the history of the club. After collecting 26 points from 22 games in the league, the newly appointed United head coach made a valid observation.

Coming to Old Trafford, Rangers would usually expect an element of fear factor, but that is quickly evaporating due to poor results against lesser teams.

United and Rangers are in the hunt for the knockout rounds in UEFA’s second-tier competition.

Wes Brown concerned about Rangers clash

Former United defender Wes Brown wants to see willingness from Amorim’s side on Thursday night.

That means running around to battle for every ball and not throwing the towel in.

However, he is expecting that from Rangers, so United will need to match that level of eagerness on the pitch.

Brown argues that Rangers couldn’t pick a better time to face United.

“I definitely think so. Especially at home as well. Coming after a defeat to Brighton,” Brown told Record Sport.

“We’ve really struggled to pick up the pace at home and I know for a fact with Rangers coming to Old Trafford there will be a willingness there that I reckon the players and team will have to really put the pressure on and try and take advantage of the current situation at the moment.”

He continued: “I think first of all there is definitely pressure to win the game. We know how big the game is. It is not like we get to play each other all the time.

“It is a game where as a Man Utd fan you are looking at it and saying we still need to win this game to make sure we are going through to the next stages.

“I think Rangers have got the team at a very good time, it is as simple as that. I know they are behind a little bit in the league themselves but they will understand and really make it a tough game.

“They will make sure they are running, putting in a solid performance and that means everything. The willingness to run around and battle, win balls and don’t give up. And we need to show the same.

“United will have to somehow put a performance in. You’ve got to sort of forget what happened in the last game and be mentally strong. But it makes it an interesting game because we are back at home and it has not been good at home the whole season.”

It really is the bare minimum to expect professional footballers to run around and battle for the ball, but United have struggled to do that against Southampton and Brighton in recent matches.

United had less problems against Liverpool and Arsenal because they were able to match – if not better – those teams in every department. It only raises questions over why they can’t play like that on a regular basis.

Rangers will believe they can stun Manchester United

Rangers will be looking to extend their unbeaten run of seven matches.

Thursday’s game will be two UK heavyweights face off in the Europa League for the first time.

However, Brown played against Rangers in the Champions League when they drew 0-0 with United at Old Trafford, in 2010.

Walter Smith was Rangers manager at the time, and Brown featured in a team that consisted of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher.

Brown believes Thursday’s game ‘is a weird one’ because Rangers will believe they can stun United this time around.

“It is a weird one. I think if you are Rangers you sort of say ‘listen we are catching them at a good time here. To every single man we have to perform but they’ve not got any luck at the moment and down from the last game. We can really take advantage of them’. That is how Rangers have to approach it. That’s all they can do really.

“You have to look at that [positions in group] Rangers have done well and are sitting in a nice position. They know if they win they are sort of nearly guaranteed an automatic place in next round. They are coming into the game with a little bit of confidence in that sense but United aren’t. It is as simple as that.”