In recent months and years, Manchester United fans have often wondered 'why us always' when it came to issues surrounding managers, squads, finances and more – all while their rivals were getting the best out of themselves.
The truth is they are not alone. Supporters of Thursday's Europa League opponent Rangers were often in the same boat.
Although the respective rankings at home do not make for pleasant reading, Europe offers that reprieve and an opportunity for Ruben Amorim and Philippe Clement to enjoy success.
The teams are separated by one point as they battle for a place in the knockout stages, with United seventh and Rangers eighth.
Here we take a look at some of the similarities between the teams ahead of their clash at Old Trafford…
Administrative merry-go-round
Since former Rangers player Sir Alex Ferguson resigned as United boss, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag have been sacked.
Amorim is the latest man to finally take the reins at Old Trafford after United hit the reset button for the sixth time since 2013.
There were glimmers of hope at that time. A Europa League title, two FA Cups and two Carabao Cups were added to the silverware collection at Old Trafford.
However, with Amorim being the first manager to be appointed by INEOS, it remains to be seen what kind of grace he will receive in the post.
Meanwhile, in the blue corner – after Steven Gerrard left in 2021, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked in 2022 and then Michael Beale was sacked in 2023. Some fans called for Clement to be next on the layoff list in 2024.
However, he was backed by the club's board, with new CEO Patrick Stewart revealing it would have been an “easy decision” to cut ties with the Belgian. Instead, he wants to end the annual cycle of hiring and firing and find out what problems lie under the bonnet at Ibrox.
At the time he backed Clement, Rangers had dropped points in four away league games – with an Old Firm win at Ibrox sandwiched in between – and the Gers boss was not given 'iron-cast guarantees' over his future if the results did not materialise . improve.
Since those conversations, he has won all three home games. Time will tell if he can deliver on the road with Man Utd away, followed by Dundee Utd away – live on Sky Sports – on Sunday.
A change in structure
After taking over football operations at Old Trafford, INEOS chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke of United becoming “best in class in all aspects of football”.
To achieve this, he says, he needs 'the right people who do the right thing at the right time and do it well'.
That's why, along with sporting director David Brailsford and CEO of INEOS Sport Jean-Claude Blanc, they recruited Dan Ashworth. However, that partnership only lasted five months as he soon left his role as sporting director.
However, Omar Berrada will remain CEO and will work with new technical director Jason Wilcox and recruitment director Christopher Vivell. After years of tension and calls for change, fans are starting to see things moving in a new direction. Ratcliffe wants the club to be the best and time will tell if these appointments lead to United becoming just that.
While there have been no significant shareholder changes, similar to Ratcliffe's purchase of a 27.7 percent stake in United, the key board members responsible for running the Ibrox club have changed.
When Rangers last won the Scottish Premiership under Gerrard in 2021, Stewart Robertson was managing director, Ross Wilson was sporting director and Douglas Park took on the role of chairman. At the start of this season, none of them were filling those roles. In fact, even some of those who started this campaign have moved on.
A new structure has been introduced with former Man Utd chief Stewart as CEO, Fraser Thornton as chairman of Scottish Golf and Nils Koppen promoted to technical director. More changes could follow, with Stewart ordering an externally-backed review of the club's football department.
He wants to “build an environment where success becomes a habit, not just a hope” and with every aspect of the club under the microscope, who knows how much more will change as he tries to turn his hopes into reality.
Brilliance in big play
Inconsistency has cost managers at both clubs their jobs in the past – so perhaps both are happy to be in the countdown to a huge clash between two of Britain's biggest clubs. Why? Because of course the big games are where they seem to deliver, more often than not.
United have beaten Manchester City at the Etihad this season and more recently Lisandro Martinez hinted at a change in mentality as they went to Anfield to claim a draw against Liverpool in a match where they were underdogs. The same mentality continued days later in the FA Cup, where United edged past Arsenal despite being one player behind.
However, the mentality seemed to change again – for the worse – as United returned to the league and hosted rock-bottom Southampton. It took a late hat-trick from Amad Diallo to salvage a dismal performance and claim the three points. However, they could not rely on Amad's brilliance for the second time in a row as United were defeated 3-1 by Brighton at Old Trafford.
United seem keen at the moment to take on the role of underdog and seize the opportunity, but when the momentum is theirs, Amorim speaks of a “nervousness” consuming his side.
Rangers' inconsistency is such that you could split the first half of their campaign in two. The first part worried fans, with an exit from the Champions League, defeats to Celtic and Aberdeen and a host of points dropped along the way. Fast forward to part two of that first half and things are looking much better – with Rangers showing they can deliver in the big games that matter.
Clement's side won the League Cup semi-final, drew with Olympiacos, won 4-1 away to Nice, held Spurs in a match some thought they should have won, took on Celtic in the losing the League Cup final and then beating Celtic and Aberdeen at Ibrox after the New Year.
Perhaps the biggest matches on the biggest stages will bring out the best in the players on both sides.
Getting the finances in order
The costs of dropping back into the Premier League and a redundancy program saw United make an operating loss of £6.9 million in the first quarter of the 2024-2025 financial year.
However, it's not all doom and gloom if the club wants to take action now that can lead to a successful future.
Those figures from last year also revealed a record turnover of £662 million, with Berrada believing United's cost and staff cuts remained “on track”, along with work to renovate the club's Carrington training ground.
The Old Trafford club have previously said they expect the restructuring to lead to savings of between £40 million and £45 million, which they expect will have a positive impact on their financial results for 2025 and 2026.
At Ibrox, Stewart's job is to make Rangers a sustainable club off the pitch, and a successful club on it.
Despite achieving record turnover figures, the accounts showed a loss of more than £17m last year, compared to Celtic's profits of around the same figure – underscoring the work he has to do.
Shareholders have shown unwavering support in recent years to cover these losses, but Stewart believes he is “failing” in his duties if he allows the club to continue in this way.
Like Ratcliffe and co at United, Stewart wants to create a well-run club that uses its revenues in the most effective way. Time will tell whether he can fulfill his mission and what the externally led evaluation in the spring will yield.
Selection problems
For Amorim, the recent run of results has made him think about what his best formation is, and that has been accompanied by the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho being linked with a move away.
Former Rangers loanee Amad has emerged as one of the few standouts under Amorim, impressing as a right wing-back and as an attacking midfielder. Another who catches the eye is Harry Maguire. The England international has often been criticized but has proven to be reliable in defense and calm in the dressing room.
Question marks also remain over United's attackers. Rasmus Hojlund is the Europa League's joint-highest goalscorer, but it is a form he has not been able to match domestically. The 21-year-old has gone nine games without a goal and worryingly, United's next option, Joshua Zirkzee's record, is no more impressive. Zirkzee is without a goal in his last seven games. Due to out-of-form attackers and an error-prone goalkeeper in Andre Onana, selection remains a problem.
While Clement may have identified who would feature in his favorite Rangers XI, it is injuries and exclusion that will cause him some headaches on the journey south.
A contract issue at the start of the season meant Ianis Hagi was left out of Rangers' European squad. The good news for the club was that the off-field issues had been resolved and the Romanian international has been one of the shining sparks since returning to the team. The bad news: he is not in the squad for this match.
Danilo is also without another attacker, after he was left out of the group last season due to a long-term injury. Clinton Nsiala – who had to step in after defensive injuries – is also not in the squad and Mohamed Diomande will miss the match due to suspension, forcing Clement to make another substitution.
The good news for Rangers is the return of goalkeeper Jack Butland, who is back in training after missing the last six games, plus captain James Tavernier and fellow defender Leon Balogun have recovered from recent knocks.
Football is rarely far from ideal for managers, but both know it is up to them to come up with the winning formula.
Rivals succeed
The second is the last. An expression so well known in Manchester and Glasgow.
Although both clubs have secured the odd domestic trophy in recent seasons, this has not been enough for fans, especially as they long for the 'big one'. To make matters worse, the league trophy has gone to their rivals.
Man City have won six of the last seven Premier League titles, while United's other rival Liverpool claimed the other.
In Glasgow, Celtic have topped the table in 12 of the last 13 Scottish Premiership campaigns. The only one not to go to the green and white side of town was perhaps the most coveted in 2021, when Rangers stopped the Hoops from claiming a 10th consecutive title.
Rangers fans enjoyed that triumph that summer, but the nature of Glasgow meant more was demanded next season and every year after. It hasn't been followed and now they're hoping Stewart has the answers to see the glory days return to the blue and white side of town once again.
So there we have it. A large number of similarities – which of course do not end there. Man Utd have recorded two wins and a draw in their three home games in the Europa League so far. Rangers have also recorded two wins and a draw in their three away games in the Europa League so far.
Come Thursday at 8pm – something will have to be done.
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