Groundhog day, once again, for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United as they slipped up for the umpteenth time against FC Porto in the Europa League.
Conceding three goals, as vulnerable as ever in transition, Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez left exposed by a baffling tactical set-up, a red card for captain Bruno Fernandes.
Those who claim lightning never strikes twice would surely row back on such an idea if they were to tune into Manchester United’s 3-3 draw with FC Porto, Erik ten Hag’s beleaguered side committing exactly the same sins that put the Dutchman on the brink against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
They say doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results is a tell-tale sign of insanity. If that is true, then Ten Hag took leave of his senses long ago.
If it wasn’t for the excellent Andre Onana, tipping an early Porto shot over the crossbar, Man United might have gone behind quicker at the Estadio do Dragao than they did against Spurs when Brennan Johnson tapped in with three minutes on the clock.
Porto boss credits Andre Onana as goalkeeper saves Manchester United
That, Porto spinning a horrifically-exposed Martinez and driving into the space vacated by an inverted Diogo Dalot before firing an early shot across Onana’s bows, was certainly a sign of things to come.
In the first matchday, Twente boss Joseph Oosting admitted he planned to exploit Man United’s vulnerability to quick counters. Unsurprisingly, a similar tactic headlined Vitor Bruno’s own pre-match preparations.
Onana has been Man United’s Player of the Season so far, limiting Tottenham to just three goals on Sunday despite Ange Postecoglou’s side creating a remarkable nine ‘big chances’.
Onana was again Man United’s MVP in Portugal despite being forced to pick the ball out of his net on another three occasions.
“[Hitting Man United] on the counter-attack was a weapon we had planned to explore,” Bruno explains in his post-match press conference. “We created two or three almost perfect transitions. They just don’t result in a goal because, at the end, we have to face the goalkeeper.
“But that is part of our growth. It makes me really proud.”
While this was another difficult day for Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui – the Moroccan’s excellent start to life at Old Trafford quickly eroded by the tactics which look certain to get Ten Hag the sack – Porto’s own full-backs had their fair share of problems too.
Marcus Rashford was electric in the first-half for Man United, setting up Rasmus Hojlund’s opener before firing home a second following some highly-questionable goalkeeping from Porto’s number one.
Manchester United chose Andre Onana over Diogo Costa in 2023. And that is at least one decision Ten Hag can be credited for, on Thursday night’s evidence.
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
Vitor Bruno highlights problems Marcus Rashford caused for United
Bruno admits that Porto struggled with the movement of Amad Diallo in the opening 45 too, before Ten Hag invited even more pressure on himself by removing Rashford at the interval in a switch-up that had even the manager’s most stoic defenders scratching their heads.
“We did the most difficult thing; we turned a game around that many people would have considered lost,” adds Bruno, who replaced Sergio Conceicao in the Porto dugout in June. “But I know the men in my dressing room better than anyone else and I am extremely proud of what they give me.
“A brave, stoic team against a difficult opponent. Manchester United will always be a very strong rival, with unquestionable individualities.
“In the first half, we were unable to stop wide runs [from Rashford and Amad]. We often left the full-backs exposed in one-on-one situations. We gradually corrected that and in the second half the team played an excellent defensive game.
“It would have been an epic victory but it ended up being a draw that almost felt like defeat. But, I reiterate, I am very proud of that dressing room.”
Harry Maguire’s stoppage time equaliser earns Man United their first win of the Europa League first-round. It is unlikely to prove a stay of execution for Ten Hag, however, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co facing some very big decisions heading into the international break.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
