Manchester United’s 2024/25 Europa League campaign has begun with a whimper, with the Red Devils held to a 1-1 home draw.
Old Trafford is the Theatre of Dreams and Twente were looking forward to playing there against Manchester United. It is at this point where United should be hitting them with a harsh reality check, and turning the ‘dream’ into a nightmare, like with Barnsley last week.
Instead it was Twente who ended the night celebrating, toasting a 1-1 draw that was clearly a better result for them than it was for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.
Christian Eriksen scored United’s goal, before Sam Lammers equalised in the second half. Let’s take a look at where it did not go right.
Here is a look at three errors Erik ten Hag made on the night…
Christian Eriksen substitution reactive not proactive
Christian Eriksen was Manchester United’s key player in the first half, scoring the opening goal. It was his third of the season.
One of the issues for the Dane is that when the game gets stretched, and more physically intense, he can get overrun. And we saw that when he lost his composure amid a defensive mix-up for Twente’s goal.
Eriksen was substituted eight minutes later. This was a case of Erik ten Hag being reactive, rather than proactive.
The alternative option was that Ten Hag should have taken Eriksen off earlier and bring in Casemiro or Kobbie Mainoo for a fresh pair of legs on 60 minutes.
With this being Eriksen’s fourth consecutive start, the plan should always have been to take him off, before it backfired.
Or alternatively Fernandes could have come off, and Eriksen pushed further forward…
Bruno Fernandes kept on for all 90 minutes
There is a growing sentiment among Manchester United fans that Bruno Fernandes is treated a little differently under Erik ten Hag at the moment, to other players.
Fernandes is out of form, failing to score a single goal for United all season, often missing clear cut chances.
In the Twente draw his creative side was found wanting. He completed just 75 per cent of his passes (39/52) and created only one chance.
His one shot at goal was a weak effort from a set piece in stoppage time, United’s last chance wasted.
Just like against Palace at the weekend, even when off the boil, Fernandes is the one player Ten Hag won’t change, and it is to the detriment of the team.
Zirkzee and Hojlund must play together when chasing
Fernandes staying on meant Joshua Zirkzee came off when Rasmus Hojlund came on. Just like at Selhurst Park, and it did not really work.
Zirkzee showed some excellent touches during the game and was threatening. He just needed a little help.
Hojlund could not really get into the game and is still getting up to speed after his injury.
The frustration is that United’s two big money forwards are yet to share the pitch together. It should not be a case of ‘either or’ when the team is chasing a goal.
Zirkzee is a player who could have dropped back into the Fernandes role, to support and help Hojlund. This could have been a match-winning combination.
Hojlund and Zirkzee are very contrasting styles, and with the game getting frenetic, the Dane coming off the bench makes United more predictable, rather than less.
Get them on the pitch together, and defences will really have something difficult to consider. And with Fernandes not playing well, this was an easy decision the manager overlooked.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
