THE NOTEBOOK: Former Man United boss Ralf Rangnick in the crowd in Munich, Serge Gnabry has scored seven goals in his last six games against English clubs – and Bayern extend unbeaten run to 35 games
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Manchester United’s Champions League return ended in disappointment as Harry Kane struck from the spot for Bayern Munich in an entertaining 4-3 win kicked off by Andre Onana’s clanger.
The European heavyweights are at very different stages right now, with the perennial Bundesliga champions second favourites to win a competition that the Red Devils did not even feature in last season.
Absentee-hit United began brightly enough at the Allianz Arena, only for Serge Gnabry to score shortly after ex-Manchester City forward Leroy Sane’s effort squirmed past summer signing Onana.
Rasmus Hojlund scored his first goal for the club but Kane quickly slammed home a penalty, with Casemiro scoring either side of Mathys Tel’s stoppage-time strike as the Red Devils suffered a fourth defeat in five matches.
Mail Sport’s Nathan Salt looks at some things you might have missed from Wednesday’s Champions League tie.
Former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick poses with a fan in Munich on Wednesday
Rangnick returns
A day for former Manchester United managers to get in the headlines it seemed, although Ralf Rangnick had much less to say when spotted out in Munich.
The ex-interim boss found himself an interested observer as he saw United’s Under-19s lose their UEFA Youth League opener to Bayern.
Former United assistant coach and analyst Ewan Sharp was alongside him and both were at the Allianz Arena later in the night for the first team’s match.
Given his damning assessment a year ago that United needed ‘open heart surgery’ to restore the club to greatness, a penny for your thoughts now, Ralf?
Ole sticks the boot in
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came out swinging in his first big interview since being sacked by Manchester United two years ago, calling out ‘egos’ in the dressing room, revealing some players rejected the opportunity to be captain and also hinted some even refused to train in order to force through exits.
The Norwegian’s extensive sit-down with the Athletic was the last thing United needed as they prepared for a heavyweight European clash in Germany, with Solskjaer not holding back.
‘When you have a group you need everyone to pull in the same direction. When things didn’t go right, you could see certain players and egos came out,’ Solskjaer said.
He also added that some of the stars in the dressing room ‘weren’t as good as their own perception of themselves,’ in a series of damning indictments from his tenure.
Glazers won’t budge
Any hopes that Manchester United’s stuttering start to the season would force the Glazers into selling the club have been dashed.
Three league defeats in their opening first five games, their worst start to a season since 1989, has not moved the takeover needle with Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe still locked in negotiations, although neither are keen to get anywhere near the Glazers asking price having already offered north of £5billion.
With the 12-month landmark approaching since the Glazers, who have been subject to protests from fans, announced they were exploring ‘strategic alternatives’ there have been no official updates.
Bayern Munich extended their unbeaten run in the group stage of the Champions League
Group stage masters
Just what you don’t need after you’ve made your worst start to a league season since 1989 – a trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The Germans went into the match with a staggering group stage record going back to September 2017: played 34, won 31, drawn three, with 107 goals scored and just 23 against.
After this 4-3 win, make it played 35, won 32, drawn three, with 111 goals scored and 26 against. Brutal.
Breaking the record (and not in a good way)
3+ – Manchester United have conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive matches for the first time since 1978. Rewriting the wrong kind of history.
Serge Gnabry has scored seven goals in his last six games against English clubs
Gleeful Gnabry
Every time Serge Gnabry takes to the Champions League the story about how he was written off at West Brom never seems far away.
This was more about English clubs wilting to him, rather than the other way around, with his goal to make it 2-0 his seventh in his last six appearances against English clubs in the Champions League.
Four against Tottenham, two against Chelsea, and one against Manchester United.
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