Manchester United crumbled against a Galatasaray side there were there for the taking. Turkish delight was evident at Old Trafford and not what the Old Trafford faithful deserved on a night they rallied behind the team.
Our defence lack organisation and it didn’t help that the new goalkeeper had another nightmare between in the sticks in the Champions League.
The Reds started the game brightly. In the opening minutes, Rasmus Hojlund broke forward and put one Galatasaray full-back Sacha Boey under immense pressure. The Danish striker delivered a low cross into the box, but Bruno Fernandes sent his attempt wide.
Minutes later we were moments away from conceding an early opening goal, which unfortunately sums up how the game went for United tonight. A moment of madness saw Hannibal Mejbri gift possession to Karem Akturkoglu, who ran approximately 60 yards to the edge of United’s box until Diogo Dalot stepped in and cleared the ball from danger.
United broke the deadlock after 19 minutes in true style. Casemiro played a one-touch pass that split Galatasaray’s defence. It was followed by sublime dynamic wing play from Marcus Rashford, only for Rasmus Hojlund to do what proper centre-forwards do best. Our new 20-year-old striker played well in the first-half, held up play superbly and his strength was problematic for the Turks.
However, the high from our opening goal was short lived. Wilfried Zaha made sure to score at his old stomping ground after weak defensive play from United. Dalot was bullied while Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane were both guilty of allowing a looping ball drop over their heads.
United lose their way a little bit after conceding the equaliser but that doesn’t change the fact Galatasaray were lucky to be level after Mason Mount’s shot looked to be going in until it smacked off Hannibal, who was replaced by Christian Eriksen at half-time presumably because Ten Hag noticed the amount of space the Turks were leaving in midfield.
The second half started with Galatasaray putting their mark on the game and trying to slow down the tempo. I felt it was only a matter of time before the manager looked at his bench for attacking options because our passing turning sloppy and a few players were often caught flat footed. The fade off has been apparent since the equaliser.
Rashford wasted a golden opportunity after bursting through on goal in the 52nd minute as he squared the ball instead of shooting at goal. It was was appalling blunder as his pass failed to reach Fernandes, but it looked like a player who is lacking in confidence at the moment.
You could say United started to find their grove again before the hour mark and the fans were getting right behind the team. Hojlund had the ball in the back of the net again but it was correctly flagged offside. It sounded like the fans (12th man) were trying to sing the ball into the next.
The chances continued to flow as Mount and Eriksen combined wonderfully in the middle, but the real buzz was coming from the stands. It warranted a goal and it got one.
On the 66th minute, Hojlund finally completed his brace with a stunning striker after he ran with the ball from the half-way line. The finish was even better than the run as he became the latest Scandinavian to make the headlines in Manchester.
United fell asleep again after scoring, though, and the signs were there when Andre Onana almost caused another calamity in the Champions League. He got away with spilling the ball inside the box until minutes later when the threatening Akturkoglu made it 2-2. To concede so quickly after taking the lead again shows how quickly these players slip into their comfort zone, despite our defensive woes.
It looked like matters were going from bad to worse when Onana gifted the ball to Galatasaray and Casemiro, on a yellow card already, was left with no other choice but to make a last ditch tackle inside the box. He was subsequently sent off but thankfully Mauro Icardi squandered his penalty.
The Argentina international found himself one-on-one with Onana just moments later as United were caught wide open. Icardi dinks the ball over the Cameroonian goalkeeper as he scored his 11th goal of the season.
Seven minutes were added on towards the end and United had an array of attacking options on the pitch. Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Anthony Martial were both introduced in the second half and United were desperate for a goal (two really).
United were unable to create anything meaningful without Rashford on the pitch and it explains why we wouldn’t be better without him in the side every week. United are lacking spark in attack and it doesn’t help that on nights like these Fernandes goes hiding.
It now becomes a huge ask for United to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League after losing 3-2 tonight in what felt like a rollercoaster of emotions.
Ten Hag knows we’re bound to be under pressure if we’re unable to win our home games. We look like a team in turmoil.
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“We look like a team in turmoil “.
We are in turmoil. Never have I seen it this bad after 65 plus years supporting this club. A mess on and off the field and if there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, it’s probably a train.
Absolutely shocking what’s happened to this once great club.
Seamus, I’m not trying to question your judgement as a long serving Red, but I do think it’s been this bad in the past 10-years. The post-Ferguson era has been a tricky obstacle for the club, but made 10x times worse by the Glazer ownership. They took more power over the club after Fergie retired. It’s believed they wanted him out in 2013 before he made the decision himself. Anyway, I genuinely feel we have to change the cycle with managers. I’m biting the bullet and getting behind the team when I can. MUFC – for the love, not the glory, as you know.
Dale, I love this club as much as anyone. It’s been ingrained in me since my arrival at Urmston Cottage Hospital those many years ago. First time I ever saw my dad cry was Feb 58. I will always continue to support the club, but right now it is so hard. What is particularly disappointing is that the rot seems to have settled into all the players (Hojlund excepted). Too much player power? Poor, authoritarian management? Combination of both perhaps. Ultimately it comes down to the players..they have to play for the shirt, they’re not right now and Ten Hag looks incapable of turning it around.
Problem us if he goes, who/what next?
I’m sure you have some wonderful stories which I hope you think back to during these bleak times. After a bad result at Old Trafford, I always try to leave the ground thinking about all the brilliant memories this football club has given us. I said it on the last few podcasts that I think player power is a huge problem and – to look at the bigger picture – it’s modern football in a nutshell. I don’t know what next, but Ten Hag has my support.