Manchester United’s Europa League campaign got off to a stuttering start with a 1-1 draw against FC Twente at Old Trafford. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, United were unable to secure a victory, leaving manager Erik ten Hag frustrated.
Marcus Rashford continued his impressive form, proving to be a constant threat to the Twente defense. His pace, skill, and finishing ability were on full display, and he was arguably United’s best player on the night. Rashford’s goal in the second half gave United the lead, but they were unable to hold on.
Christian Eriksen had a mixed performance. He was involved in the build-up to Rashford’s goal, but he also made several costly errors. Eriksen’s passing was often wayward, and he struggled to impose himself on the game. His performance was a stark contrast to his impressive form in recent weeks.
United’s defense was far from convincing. They struggled to deal with Twente’s counter-attacks and were fortunate not to concede a second goal. The center-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez looked shaky at times, and there were questions raised about the full-backs’ defensive contributions.
Despite dominating possession, United struggled to create clear-cut chances. The midfield lacked creativity, and the team often resorted to long balls. The absence of Bruno Fernandes, who was unavailable due to injury, was keenly felt.
Erik ten Hag was visibly frustrated with his team’s performance. He expressed his disappointment with the lack of clinical finishing and the defensive errors that led to the equalizer. The manager will be hoping for a much-improved display in the return leg.
Full Player Ratings
Here are the player ratings for Manchester United’s performance against FC Twente:
- David de Gea: 6.5 – Made a few good saves but could have done better for the equalizer.
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 6.0 – Solid defensively but lacked going forward.
- Raphael Varane: 6.5 – Made some important interceptions but was shaky at times.
- Lisandro Martinez: 6.5 – Aggressive and committed but made some errors.
- Luke Shaw: 6.0 – Struggled to contain Twente’s wingers.
- Casemiro: 7.0 – Dominant in midfield but lacked creativity.
- Christian Eriksen: 6.0 – Involved in the goal but made several errors.
- Antony: 6.5 – Showed glimpses of his quality but was inconsistent.
- Bruno Fernandes (sub): 6.0 – Did not have enough time to make an impact.
- Marcus Rashford: 8.0 – Excellent performance, scored the goal and was a constant threat.
- Anthony Martial (sub): 6.0 – Did not have much of an impact.
Overall, Manchester United’s performance against FC Twente was disappointing. Despite dominating possession and creating chances, they were unable to secure a victory. The team’s defensive frailties and lack of creativity in midfield were major concerns. Erik ten Hag will be hoping for a much-improved display in the return leg if United are to progress in the Europa League.
