In the second round of the Europa League group stage, Manchester United led by two goals away from home, but were overtaken by three goals in a row, and with Bruno · Fernandes once again reddened and played one less, substitute Harry Maguire headed the level to save the Red Devils, or more accurately, manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag made changes to his starting line-up in central midfield, with veteran Eriksen and Casemiro partnering in midfield, and Hojlund replacing Zilkze as central striker, but Bruno Bruno · Fernandes, who have been in questionable form, still start.
Manchester United got off to a fantastic start, thanks to a mistake by Porto goalkeeper Diogo · Costa. In the opening seven minutes, Rashford won the ball on the left and broke through two defenders, and fired a low right-footed shot into the near corner from inside the penalty area, and the goalkeeper made a mistake to save the ball and let the ball flow into the net, and Manchester United led Porto 1-0. It was Marcus Rashford's fourth goal of the season and he was instrumental in creating chances for the Red Devils.
Marcus Rashford then got on the edge of Eriksen's breakthrough pass and tucked the ball straight into the left side of the box, Hojlund received a low left-footed shot from the same angle, and Diogo · Costa saved the ball into his own goal again, giving United a 2-0 lead of two goals, at which point the game was only 20 minutes into the game.
However, a 2-0 lead still could not win, which is the "habit" that United have formed in the Champions League since last season, with Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray all enjoying benefits. This season, it turns out that the situation has not improved.
Ten Hag's progress at the start of the season is gone. Fans used to talk about the new defence conceding fewer goals and keeping more clean sheets, believing that as long as the strikers started scoring, they could win the game beautifully. However, after that sentiment emerged, United were conceded three goals in a row by Tottenham and Porto, the latter of whom did so from 2-0 down.
Porto's two-goal deficit was due to a goalkeeper error, and Manchester United was overtaken, which was the result of the overall gift from the back line in front of the goalkeeper! In particular, the responsibility should be borne by Ten Hag's summer signing of De Ligt, whose sense of position was analysed and criticised by Carragher on Sky Sports United Kingdom's 'Football Night' last weekend.
A few minutes after United extended their lead, De Ligt and team-mate Mazraoui, also from Bayern, were unable to defend Porto's header, and Andre · Onana did his best to save the shot, but Pepe Jr. made it back in front of the goal to give United a 2-1 lead.
De Ligt then won a header directly from Sam · Omolodion as United took a two-goal lead in 20 minutes before being equalised by home Porto within five minutes.
At half-time, Ten Hag made a direct substitution, and Marcus Rashford, who had a pass and a shot in the first half, was substituted and Garnacho came on. The substitution sparked controversy as the 26-year-old was probably the most in-form striker on the pitch at the time.
Ten Hag's explanation for this was that there was a problem with Rashford's return defence, which led to a counterattack by the opponent in the first half. 'Garnacho has been the most in-form player so far on Sunday and has been in many other games as well. Ten Hag said after the game: "I think he's been an attacking threat to us so far this season by creating chances, assists and scoring. So, we have to play Garnacho and we have two very good players to rotate."
Marcus Rashford failed to keep Joao · Mario on United's first goal and allowed him to cross with ease. Ten Hag was blunt about defending on the left: 'I think we didn't defend well on the left side tonight and Marcus [Marcus Rashford] has his own responsibility. But as I said, it's mainly because of Garnacho's form and not about Rashford.'
But United's defensive problems are not limited to the left side. Porto took the lead in the restart, with Lisandro · Martinez unable to prevent a breakthrough cross from the right, while De Ligt in the middle was once again denied by Omolodion, who fired home to put United 3-2 down. Since the start of last season, United have conceded two or more goals 31 times.
Manchester United have scored 12 goals in their last four away European games but have not won any games; In the last 10 European matches, only one win has been won. Ten Hag lashed out at his players' lack of willingness to defend: 'I think it's a mixed feeling, we got off to a good start in a difficult away game, executed our plan brilliantly, scored two goals and then the power went out. We didn't keep the ball as high as we used to, we stopped defending, conceded the first goal completely unnecessarily, lit the fire for the home side. We didn't have anyone to defend in our third goal, and it had to do with the mood at the time. But also to the lads who know how to come back in the game, fight and equalise.'
Ten Hag's main thanks should be the two, goalkeeper Onana and substitute defender Harry Maguire. In the critical moments, United brought on Harry Maguire and Evans. Because De Ligt and Lima were in poor form, the Netherlands centre-back almost set up an own goal to extend the lead.
Fernandes was once again in the spotlight when he raised his foot too high in the opposition penalty area and kicked his opponent in the head, earning a second yellow card and being sent off. In the last round of the Premier League, he was also red against Tottenham, but fortunately the red card was cancelled after the appeal, otherwise two consecutive red games could create a miracle in international football.
Onana turned down his opponent's one-on-one effort to prevent United from falling two goals behind with one man less. Red Devils fans chanting "Attack, Attack, Attack" to motivate their team, and a desperate hero stepped up! Harry Maguire, who missed United's game against Tottenham with calf pain, is not believed to be fully recovered, but that doesn't stop him from saving Ten Hag again.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Harry Maguire beat the Porto defender and headed into the net to give United a 3-3 equaliser. It was a repeat of last season's repetition when Ten Hag's managerial position was similarly shaky, with two former Red Devils ministers Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay who the Netherlands wanted to purge. The wheat has been sold to Napoli in Serie A, and Maguire continues to protect Ten Hag, who has been stripped of his captaincy, with his professional attitude.
It is ironic that Ten Hag has brought on his own signings of £120 million attackers Zirkze and Antony, but has had to rely on centre-back Harry Maguire to save United from a fourth defeat of the season.
"Of course we still believe in the manager." Speaking after the game, Maguire said: "I've been playing for Manchester United for six years and I know exactly how it works. When you go through bad times, there is pressure on the players and there is pressure on the coaches. He's got enough experience, he's been coaching long enough, including at our club, and I'm sure he's learned how to deal with it. It's part of playing for Manchester United or coaching. After each game, we analyze and communicate. The manager spoke, the coach spoke, and the players expressed their views. It's normal, and I've seen it in many of the dressing rooms, where everybody communicates and talks about what can be done better."
However, Ten Hag's body language was more worrying than the players on the pitch, standing motionless with his hands in his pockets and even ducking back into the dugout after the opposition had overtaken. Assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was more in the spotlight, having been shown a yellow card for aggressive behaviour after Porto's equaliser, with Ten Hag sitting next to him unmoved.
United's goalless draw boosted morale for Sunday's trip to Aston Villa, but the embattled Ten Hag will need to be as brave as Harry Maguire to really prove himself, rather than defending himself with the two trophies he has won each time. Manchester United's pitch and results must be more convincing, otherwise Sir Jim · Ratcliffe and INEOS' decision to stay with Netherlands in the summer will be proven by history to be the wrong choice.