Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is preparing for the Europa League but one loanee was in Champions League action on Tuesday night.
European action takes full focus this week with Manchester United gearing up to face Real Sociedad on Thursday night.
Ruben Amorim has played down the Europa League’s importance but make no mistake – this is a big game for United.
United need a strong first-leg performance in San Sebastian with a potential meeting with FCSB or Lyon coming in the quarter-finals.
Whilst Amorim will be gearing up for Thursday’s game but will have also had one eye on the progress of Tyrell Malacia.
- READ MORE: Real Sociedad dealt ‘sensitive’ injury blow vs Man Utd, midfield star set to miss both games
Dutch media on Tyrell Malacia performance against Arsenal
Tuesday night saw PSV Eindhoven host Arsenal in the Champions League.
Amorim may well have been interested in this game on two fronts with United loanee Malacia in action for PSV and the Gunners coming up as United’s next Premier League opponents on Sunday.
United loaned Malacia to PSV as the January transfer window closed, handing the Eredivisie side an option to buy in the process.
The chances are that Malacia never plays for United again but it’s important to still keep tabs on his progress.
Arsenal completely obliterated PSV and Malacia though, claiming a remarkable 7-1 first-leg lead in Eindhoven.
Malacia created one great chance in the first half with a superb cross into the box, but Luuk de Jong headed over the bar.
Unsurprisingly, the Dutch media handed Malacia low ratings having featured in a defence which leaked seven goals – and effectively suffered elimination before the second leg even started.
Voetbal International gave Malacia a 3.5 out of 10 rating but Voetbal Primeur went with a three out of 10, suggesting that he looks a far cry from the player he was at Feyenoord.
“Sometimes he was too late, sometimes he simply lost the ball and then he let his man run again. Malacia is a shadow of the Feyenoord star he was before his departure to Manchester United,” he added.
Voetbal Zone went with 3.5 out of 10 for Malacia too, one of the lowest ratings in the PSV side as they suffered a humiliating defeat.
Pundit Marciano Vink went even further, stating just how ‘annoyed’ he was with Malacia for not communicating properly with winger Noa Lang, allowing Jurrien Timber to run riot for Arsenal.
“I was really annoyed by Malacia in the first half,” said Vink, as quoted by Voetbal Primeur.
“Malacia has played international matches and in the Premier League, so it seems quite logical to me that you communicate with Lang and say: Noa, stay where you are, I’ll pick up Timber.
“Now Lang kept getting into one-on-one duels with Timber, who played like a glorified right winger. It’s not bad that it happens once, but Malacia just kept running with Nwaneri. He was playing right half rather than left back… Just talk to each other. It’s ABC,” he added.
No route back to Manchester United for Malacia
Malacia is only on loan at PSV but even if they decide to avoid the purchase option, the Dutchman surely won’t have a role to play at Old Trafford.
United signed Patrick Dorgu in January, landing the Dane from Lecce as the new left wing back not just for now, but for the future too.
Amorim sanctioning Malacia’s exit – including a purchase option – sums up that he just doesn’t have plans for him moving forward.
Malacia’s first season was so promising but injuries have set him back and now leave him on the brink of leaving United – whether it’s PSV or elsewhere.
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