Gasperini refuses to write off struggling Man Utd ahead of Old Trafford Champions League test

Gian Piero Gasperini has urged Roma not to be lulled into complacency by Manchester United’s dire form, insisting his side will approach Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Old Trafford as though they are facing a team at the peak of its powers.

Michael Carrick’s United limp into the tie on the back of a nine-match winless streak that has included a 4-1 defeat at Cesc Fabregas’ Como — a result that sent the club into a fresh crisis. Roma, by contrast, arrive buoyed by an unbeaten start to the Serie A season, though Gasperini is working with a threadbare squad of just 17 outfield players available in England.

“Obviously Manchester United is struggling somewhat in terms of results in the Premier League at the moment,” the 68-year-old said. “But we can’t get distracted and too hung up on that situation because we know that Manchester United is a strong team, we know that they have top players in their squad. They make things very difficult for the opposition here at Old Trafford, so we’ll be playing tomorrow’s game as if we’re playing against Manchester United at the top of its form.”

Gasperini admitted he could not fully explain United’s slump but cautioned that quality sides have a habit of finding their way back. “I don’t really know why Manchester United are experiencing the difficulties that they are at the moment. But what I do know is that Manchester United is made up of very strong players and sometimes you go through a hard time, but then you get back on track. I hope that is what happens to Manchester United — after tomorrow, obviously.”

Roma have lost all four of their previous visits to Old Trafford, most memorably suffering a 7-1 thrashing in the 2007 Champions League quarter-final second leg — a night on which Carrick, then a United midfielder, scored twice. The irony of facing his former club as manager in the same competition will not be lost on anyone inside the ground.

Veteran Roma midfielder Marten de Roon, who spent the 2016-17 season at Middlesbrough while Carrick was still playing for United, paid tribute to the new Red Devils boss. “I looked up to him. He was a great midfielder, a great passer of the ball, understood the game very well — played in one of the strongest Manchester United teams that we have ever seen. Lots of respect for him. We shouldn’t underestimate them because of the results lately, but for sure we want to make a great result tomorrow.”