Opponents shrink when United fans roar full blast, claims Rojo

DEFENDER Marcos Rojo has no doubt about the positive effect Manchester United’s fans can have on the team during a match — having experienced it from both sides.

The Argentine sat among supporters in the away sections at last season’s 1-0 victory at Liverpool and the 1-1 draw at Stoke in January.

Rojo, who is hoping to be on the pitch for today’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Championship outfit Blackburn, feels it is particularly late on in games that the fans can have an impact to United’s benefit, creating an atmosphere that drives them on and makes the opposition ‘appear to shrink a little’.

The 26-year-old said: ‘When the team needs to go all out for the win in the last few minutes of a game, or we need to grab a late goal, it’s great for us to feel that support and you can sense that the opponents feel it, too.

‘When the fans really get going and are passionately driving us forward and cheering at full blast, you get the feeling that, as we put the pressure on, the other team just appear to shrink a little in the face of all this. And you can tell that’s happening when you’re out there playing.

‘I had the chance to be in the crowd at Liverpool and at Stoke — and I really got to feel for myself just what the United supporters live through every week.’

Jose Mourinho’s side are the FA Cup holders and with a League Cup final on the horizon next week, a Cup double is a distinct possibility this year.

United midfielder Ander Herrera has fond memories of last term’s run.

‘It’s the oldest competition in England and I think it’s the most amazing cup in the world because of the organisation,’ said Herrera.

‘For me, the organisation in England is fantastic. The last four play the semi-final one game and then the final (is) at Wembley, too. It’s fantastic for the fans.

‘We want to keep playing in it and win away against Blackburn.’