Man Utd lose to Middlesbrough: Five things we learned as Ralf Rangnick’s side suffer exit

In pictures: Man Utd v Middlesbrough

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Manchester United saw their hopes of FA Cup glory ended by Middlesbrough on Friday night, losing in a dramatic penalty shootout. Jadon Sancho put the hosts ahead in the first half, with Matt Crooks then levelling. But the Red Devils ended up slumping to defeat and, now, Express Sport will now take a look at five things we learned from the contest.

Sancho starts to come good

It’s been a difficult first season back in England for Jadon Sancho.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a massive £73million, just one Premier League goal so far isn’t good enough.

Sancho has, however, started to come good under Rangnick with the England international scoring in the first half following a direct darting run.

With Mason Greenwood out of action, and Amad and Anthony Martial leaving on loan, United need their No 25 to come good.

The signs, on that front, are starting to look promising.

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Ronaldo’s magic could be waning

Cristiano Ronaldo has, for over a decade, been one of the best players on the planet.

But as the forward prepares to turn 37 tomorrow, age may be starting to catch up to the veteran.

Ronaldo missed a penalty, one the club had been given after Paul Pogba had been fouled inside the area.

And he spurned multiple chances over the course of the 90 minutes, blazing wide, straight at the goalkeeper and lifting a lob over the bar.

His speed is clearly no longer what it was and Ronaldo, while still a good player, now faces a fight to regain the magic of old.

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Don’t deprive fans of food or drink

Football fans don’t usually unite behind one cause while their respective teams are playing.

Yet they did at Old Trafford when it was announced the club wouldn’t be selling food or drink at the interval.

Amusingly, all fans inside the ground booed this development. Luckily, there are a few bars nearby to quench their thirst and hunger once the game is done.

United fans also used it as another reason to call for the Glazers to go.

Not that they needed any more…

United have left themselves short

With United looking to win the game, Rangnick was forced to throw on Juan Mata.

It was his only option after Sancho was forced to hobble out of the battle and speaks volumes about the club’s decision-making.

Mata is a good professional but his best years are behind him. That’s why he’s not played in the Premier League this term.

United loaned out both Amad and Anthony Martial in the January transfer window.

Now, they’ve been left short.

United have never been further away

United are just as far behind the elite as they were when they sacked David Moyes back in 2014.

In fact, it could be argued they’re getting worse.

Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho both won trophies at Old Trafford but never got near the big ones. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, too, failed to turn the club around.

Now, the challenge at United is just getting harder.

Whether they can save their season, after such a big setback, remains to be seen.

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