Manchester United Players Must Handle Home Pressure – Jonny Evans

Jonny Evans has emphasised that Manchester United players are under considerable pressure in matches at Old Trafford and must learn to handle it.

United experienced more home difficulties on Saturday as they were held 0-0 by West Brom, their eighth draw at their own ground in the Premier League this season.

The Red Devils dominated possession but failed to show much cutting edge, and their attack — consisting of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan — was criticised afterwards by United boss Jose Mourinho.

Albion defender Evans emerged from United’s youth set-up to make 198 senior appearances for them before moving on to West Brom in 2015.

And after facing his old club on Saturday, Evans said of them playing at home: “Being at United for a long time, you realise every game, teams raise their game [against them at Old Trafford], and there is no doubt in my mind that happens because I have seen it now.

“There is a lot of pressure on the lads. It’s obviously the biggest and best stadium and biggest team in the country, so there is an added pressure that goes with that which makes it that much [more] difficult.”

When then asked if that was something United’s players simply had to learn to deal with, the 29-year-old replied: “Of course — that is all part of it.

“And I am sure the lads will adjust to that.”

Rashford, starting up front again on Saturday as Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed his suspension, brought two fine saves out of another ex-United player, Ben Foster, in the second half.

But ultimately the 19-year-old could not provide the finish United needed as his run without scoring in the league extended to a 19th appearance.

Only 10 of those outings have been starts and it has been a largely frustrating season for Rashford after he made such a spectacular first-team breakthrough last term.

Evans feels it is particularly difficult for forwards to make the step up from the United academy, but he sees Rashford as a “frightening prospect.”

“It is very difficult, especially in the forward positions,” Evans said.

“United have the money to buy whichever forward they want and they have a good history of centre-forwards over the years, so it’s very difficult with that pressure on him to produce.

“But Marcus is a frightening prospect.

“He is one of those players who I was playing against [on Saturday] and I thought I had to be on the top of my game, and we all did because of the quality he has got.”