United stroll takes sting out of protest

MANCHESTER, England－Manchester United took the sting out of the latest fan protest against the Glazer family as it 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 toxic at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes struck early in the first half and Cristiano Ronaldo converted a second-half penalty before Raphael Varane bagged his first goal for United.

Despite winning its last home game of the season, United remains in sixth place in the Premier League with two games left.

The Red Devils sit five points adrift of the top four with no realistic hope of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Fittingly, it was under grey, rain-filled skies that fans protested against unpopular owners the Glazers for a third successive home match.

Outside the stadium before kickoff, a group of supporters held up anti-Glazer banners, set off red smoke bombs and roared offensive chants about the club's owners.

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.

But that idea proved a damp squib as only a handful left their seats.

There were more empty seats by the time United embarked on a post-match lap of appreciation, but no overt signs of dissent toward their underachieving stars.

"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.

Regardless, there is no doubting the overall level of frustration at another trophy-less season for United, which hasn't won the Premier League since 2013 and last lifted a major trophy five years ago.

'Lacked consistency'

Aside from a few scathing comments about the club's direction, Rangnick has done little to jolt United out of its malaise since replacing the fired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.

"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.

"It's obvious quite a few players will leave and there is a need for top quality players.

"Other clubs only needed two or three transfer windows to challenge. I strongly believe that if everyone works together we can bring Man United back to where we need to be."

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.

After such a wretched run, United needed a fast start to lift the gloom a little and it took just nine minutes to go in front.

Anthony Elanga beat Brentford's offside trap as he raced onto Diogo Dalot's pass.

Elanga whipped a superb cross toward Fernandes, who volleyed home from close range for his first league goal since February.

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

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.

Picking himself up, Ronaldo sent goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way from the spot.

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

With the United fans' walkout just seconds away, Varane volleyed the third goal from a corner in the 72nd minute.

That appeared to take the sting out of the revolt, with Mata and Nemanja Matic－both likely to leave in the offseason－departing to standing ovations when they were substituted.

It was a rare feel-good moment in a season of strife at Old Trafford.

AFP