For Manchester United fans, the chants must have sounded like an echo from their own glorious past. In the final phase of the Champions League game at FC Copenhagen, which United lost dramatically 3-4 (2-2), the Danish supporters, known for their ingenuity, kept shouting: “Roony, Roony, Roony”. However, the calls did not mean former England international and United captain Wayne Rooney, who recently took over as coach at second division club Birmingham City. But Copenhagen’s winning goal scorer, a 17-year-old Swede with Kuwaiti roots named Roony Bardghji.
The striker made his professional debut almost two years ago and, at the age of 17 years and 358 days, has now become the youngest player to ever score against United in the premier class. This circumstance was also reminiscent of the old Rooney, who had scored a hat-trick against Fenerbahce Istanbul on his debut for United a long time ago. The mass paper Sun was the title of a play on words that was both ingenious and, from the English record champions’ point of view, painful: “It’s Pain Roony!”
Roony scores a goal against United? Seriously? Even if you don’t feel much for the Manchester club, you’ll probably see an opposing match winner with “Roony” on his shirt as the mean tip of the football god. In addition, the previous game had not been kind to the guests. After a quick Höjlund brace for a 2-0 lead (3rd/28th), United lost control of the game when Marcus Rashford was sent off by VAR (42nd/gross foul). With the advantage, Copenhagen managed to equalize before the break through Elyounoussi (45′) and Gonçalves (45’+9/hand penalty). And the renewed 3-2 lead for United, achieved with a hand penalty by Bruno Fernandes (69th), was countered by the Danish champions with a double strike: first Lerager scored (83rd), then Roony scored with a dropkick (87th).
United now need two wins, against Istanbul and against FC Bayern
The memorable 3:4 meant Manchester’s third defeat in the fourth group game. As the new bottom of the table, United now probably needs two wins against Galatasaray and FC Bayern to make it to the round of 16 – but even that might not be enough. After the draw, coach Erik ten Hag’s team almost didn’t think such a bad starting position was possible. United’s goal difference also speaks volumes: 9:11 – no other club has scored so many goals this premier league season.
Almost every competitive United game is currently turning into a drama with nerve-wracking twists and turns. The decision is usually only made in the final phase because the team does not have the authority to clearly dominate a match. The events on the pitch seem like a reflection of the changeable performances of supposed United leaders such as captain Fernandes and goalscorer Rashford. For these two, it is currently impossible to reliably predict what condition they will be in before a match.
On the one hand, the stupid, albeit unfortunate, sending off for Rashford in Copenhagen was symptomatic. On the other hand, the daring, albeit successful, execution of the penalty by Fernandes, who thundered the ball under the roof of the goal to make it 3-2. So inconsistency is currently the only constant at United. The fact that this has still not resulted in a coaching discussion is probably mainly due to the club’s unclear ownership situation. And so the calls of “Roony, Roony” will continue to resonate in Manchester for a while.