Eventful 3-3 draw for Man Utd. against Porto in the Europa League.
Ten Hag appeared to have won back the dressing room after his side went two goals up against FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao within 20 minutes, silencing critics of the underperforming side. Porto quickly responded to the early goals and hit back with two of their own leaving the teams level at the break.
Only five minutes into the second half, Porto found the back of the net again showing up the visitors who seemed disjointed after losing their two goal lead. B. Fernandes gets shown his second red in two games adding to the chaos of the game, although VAR is being scrutinised for not overturning the decision. Maguire finds the goal in injury time equaliser to claw back a point from the game, potentially keeping manager Ten Hag in a job a little longer.
Rashford, who scored the first and assisted the second goal, was taken off at half time for what Ten Hag called ‘rotation’ after the game. This decision left Man Utd. uninspiring in attack until Maguire was brought on late in the game. Is this another example of Ten Hag’s poor pitch decision making by taking off the best player of the first half and only bringing on centre back Maguire in the 80th minute.
United are winless in their past four games and will need to look again at the failures of their defence if they are to stay in the competition and make a European spot in the Premier League. Ten Hag’s side currently sit in 21st position, a knockout play-off spot, in the Europa League standings, only three positions above their opposition FC Porto.
Controversial Bruno Fernandes Red Card is Second for the Man Utd Captain in Two Games.
After being sent off against Tottenham in an embarrassing 3-0 loss at home the Manchester United captain found himself seeing red again in a turbulent match against Porto, but is he the victim of another wrong call?
Fernandes’ red card in the Tottenham game was retrospectively overturned by a panel that deemed VAR should have intervened but was sent walking down the tunnel for the second time in five days for a high boot against Perez in the 81st minute. The reckless challenge came with his second yellow of the game giving the referee no choice but to put United down to 10 men.
It was clear that Fernandes was looking for the ball, but his challenge was dangerous with his studs up. There’s been some discourse amongst fans whether the captain got himself sent off on purpose to build more doubt over Ten Hag's leadership, but the captain's reaction to the card would say otherwise.
More Questions Raised Over Ten Hag’s Future at Man United. Ratcliffe Says Manager’s Future is ‘not my call’.
Manchester United manager Ten Hag has not had the success he would’ve hoped for with the club in both the Premier League and the Europa League. Currently sitting in 13th position in the Premier League, his Man Utd. side have only secured one win in six league games. Their form in the Europa League has been much of the same showing the deep defensive flaws.
The scrutinised manager shows no sign of budging and calls for patience telling TNT Sport ‘We are in the process. Just wait. We have to develop this team. We will work and continue. We will fight,’
Hag acknowledges their defensive weakness continuing ‘We have a good mentality but in some defending parts we have to step up.’.
Maguire, who scored the late equaliser last night, backed up his manager regardless of the criticism saying ‘I've played for this club for six years, I know how it works. When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does,’
‘He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it. It's part of the privilege you have playing for this club.’
Owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe doesn’t give Ten Hag his backing and says it would not be up to him whether or not Ten Hag stays at the club. The United manager was given a year long extension to his contract in the summer but there are strong doubts over the length Ten Hag will stay for.
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