The anti-Glazer bedsheets have been unfurled again and United fans are airing their sinister song about co-chairman Joel Glazer. With needlessly loud and generic music and ‘Oh When the Saints’, it is not half as atmospheric as Monday night and that is part of the challenge for United. Can they rouse themselves for an ‘occasion’ that is about as far removed as the Liverpool game as you could get in the top flight.
Ten Hag is watching United warm-up and, from this distance, is dressed in attire that gives the impression he is Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast. Steve McClaren had a word with Ronaldo just before he departed the pitch with the rest of the substitutes, followed by the starters.
Cristiano Ronaldo did not break off from warming up to greet Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes, from what we saw, although maybe he had already addressed his former teammates as he did Gary Neville and Roy Keane on Monday night.
Casemiro and Ronaldo have been knocking passes to each other as the subs go through a much more gentle warm-up. Teammates from Real Madrid days, they probably never expected to be on a United bench together at Southampton, although you feel it’s a matter of time (days, probably) before the Brazilian is in the team.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the starting XI means he isn’t involved in the shooting drills. Fernandes is practicing free-kicks from 25 yards and he’s stuck a couple right in the top corner.
This angle of Bruno Fernandes’ winner against Southampton 🤩🔴
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) August 27, 2022