JUDGEMENT DAY is on the horizon for Erik ten Hag.
Following last weekend’s 3-0 drubbing at home to Tottenham, Ten Hag was reportedly given two games to try and convince club bosses he was the manager to lead them forward this season.
Those two games consisted of tough away matches against Porto and Aston Villa respectively.
The first of them played out at the Estádio do Dragão last night, and started out well for the Red Devils.
Marcus Rashford put United a goal to the good inside seven minutes before Rasmus Hojlund grabbed his first goal of the season after 20 minutes – with Diogo Costa not covering himself in glory for either.
However, things began to unravel when winger Pepe reacted first to an Andre Onana save to half the deficit seven minutes later.
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Chelsea transfer target Samu Omorodion then bullied Matthijs de Ligt to head home an equaliser, before beating him to the ball in the second half to score a tap-in and make it 3-2.
When Bruno Fernandes was then sent off once again there was a resounding sense of deja vu from Sunday.
Fortunately for United, Harry Maguire climbed off the bench to head home a corner in injury time and ensure they escaped with a point.
Yet the warning signs that have been seen before were present once again and showing absolutely no sign of remedy, with just three wins from their opening nine games this season.
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Ten Hag will desperately be hoping to grab a fourth win, and third in the league, to stop the rot before the international break.
Reacting to the display, the Dutchman said: “We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two good goals, but then we lost control.
“So the start was good, the middle part was not good, and then we finished very good. It’s a tough place to go, so coming back from 3-2 we get the equaliser, which is good for the spirit.
“You see again that the team has a really strong character, but the middle part, the defending, we have to improve.”
He also called on the judgement of the team to be reserved until later this season, adding: “We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment. Judge us at the end of the season.
“We are in the process and we will improve. We are now two seasons where we achieve finals. We have to develop and progress this team…
“We will work and we will continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. Between the players, together, there’s a strong spirit.
“We want to achieve and we are in that [same] direction. We have that mentality and spirit-wise, but especially in some defending parts, we have to step up.”
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The trip to Villa Park – where United will face an Aston Villa team high on confidence after they beat Bayern Munich midweek in a repeat of the 1982 Champions League final – is do or die for Ten Hag at United.
Should another loss be chalked up, however, the club’s sporting bosses will have a major decision to make.
Man Utd ratings vs Porto
MAN UTD ended up with a 3-3 draw after throwing away a 2-0 lead away to Porto.
Here’s how SunSport’s Dylan Terry rated the Red Devils’ stars performances in Portugal
Andre Onana – 6/10
Reacted brilliantly the first time he was called into action with a flying save, only for Porto to score the rebound.
Porto then scored with their next shot on target too – Omorodion’s header – and Onana could do little about the excellent finish for Porto’s third.
Made two great stops to keep Man Utd in the game.
Noussair Mazraoui – 4
Looked fairly stable in the first 45 minutes but waned as the game went on.
All at sea at the start of the second half as Porto cut through the right-hand side of Man Utd’s defence with ease.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
Looked imposing in the air as he dealt with Porto’s crosses from both sides, but then failed to get in front of Omorodion for the hosts’ second goal.
Like most of the Man Utd side, his performance dropped as the game went on and he was bullied by Porto’s No9.
Lisandro Martinez – 4
Should have reacted quicker for the first Porto goal as Pepe got ahead of him to nod into an empty net – with Martinez static on the six-yard box.
There is clearly not much of a partnership with De Ligt as Porto pulled them apart all evening.
Diogo Dalot – 4
Porto enjoyed a lot of success down Man Utd’s left-hand side and Dalot looked all at sea on several occasions.
Had little help from Martinez but still looked exposed.
Casemiro – 3
Anonymous yet again in Man Utd’s midfield – the ball just passes him by.
Could not even manage one of his customary fouls.
Christian Eriksen – 5
Looked leggy out of possession but produced an impressive run before laying it off to Hojlund for Man Utd’s second goal.
Then failed to make much more of an impact and his delivery from wide areas left a lot to be desired.
Bruno Fernandes – 4
A damning indictment of Man Utd’s current predicament as Fernandes was shown a red card for a second successive game.
Two high boots, two yellow cards, and another early bath for the Portuguese playmaker – who had worked tirelessly prior to his dismissal.
Amad Diallo – 5
Very quiet aside from one burst through the middle as Rashford received all of the ball over the other side.
Replaced by Antony who arguably created even less.
Rasmus Hojlund – 7
Made his case for starting ahead of Joshua Zirkzee with a goal, firing beyond Costa at the near post.
Held it up and then showed his strength and pace to run at Porto before the break – showing little rustiness in his first start of the season.
Marcus Rashford – 8
Rashford showed his directness for the opening goal, driving at the Porto back line and forcing the error from Costa.
A constant threat in the first half as he assisted Hojlund’s strike.
But he was then surprisingly hooked at the break, a decision that will need an explanation from Ten Hag.
See how the Man Utd subs rated here
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
