Three things we learned as a tepid Man United snatch lucky point in 3-3 draw vs. FC Porto | OneFootball

Manchester United were undoubtedly looking to get back to winning ways as they travelled to Portugal to face FC Porto in their second group-stage match of the Europa League.

United kickstarted their campaign in the competition with a frustrating 1-1 draw vs. FC Twente and followed that up with a devastating 0-3 loss against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Erik ten Hag and his players were therefore under a lot of pressure to clinch a win, in an effort to appease the club’s disgruntled supporters.

The United boss started Andre Onana in goal with a defensive four of Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot ahead of him.

Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes were deployed in the middle of the park.

Rasmus Hojlund led the line with Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo on either side of him.

Here are three things we learned from Manchester United’s 3-3 draw against Porto.

Rashford showing positive signs of his old self

Rashford was United’s primary source of threat, especially during the opening 45 minutes, in which he ran rampant.

The England international gave his side the lead just seven minutes in as he brilliantly evaded two or three Porto players, before beating Diogo Costa at the near post. It was a superb piece of play from the United winger.

Minutes later, Rashford was at it again, this time setting up Hojlund for United’s second of the match.

Beyond his goal contributions, the Carrington academy graduate was a constant pain in the backside of the Porto defenders who found it hard to contain him.

Evidence of just how lethal Rashford was could be seen by the fact that nearly all of United’s attacks went down his side of the pitch.

He demonstrated a willingness to take his man on when the opportunity presented itself and even more positively, looked better when he was doing it.

Rashford was also good defensively and helped out Dalot defensively by tracking back. Unfortunately for him and United, Porto grabbed two quick-fire goals to ensure both sides went down the tunnel with the score at 2-2.

Rashford certainly showed glimpses of his old self – the player that plundered 30 goals in 2022/23 – and if he continues on in this trajectory, then United only stand to benefit.

Peculiarly, Rashford was taken off at the interval and replaced by Alejandro Garnacho. Hopefully, it’s not a serious injury if that was the reason for his withdrawal.

Mental fragility within the ranks still a big worry

On yet another occasion, as has become the norm under Ten Hag, United were unable to hold on to their lead or build from it.

After Hojlund gave the Reds a two-goal advantage, Porto halved the deficit just seven minutes later. Some pitiful defending from United allowed Pepe to put the ball into the back of the net, to give the Liga Portugal giants an avenue back into the game.

Striker Samu Omorodion grabbed the equaliser, as he towered over De Ligt to emphatically head in the ball past the reach of a helpless Onana.

Ten Hag’s tenure at Old Trafford has been plagued by the team completely crumbling at the first sign of adversity.

As pointed out by ESPN journalist Rob Dawson on X, just in Europe since the start of last season, United have conceded two goals in four minutes against Bayern Munich (A), two in 10 minutes against Galatasaray (H), two in four minutes vs. Copenhagen (A), two in nine minutes vs. Galatasaray (A) and now, two in seven minutes at the Estádio do Dragão.

The weakness in mentality within the ranks is a huge problem that has gone without being addressed for far too long.

De Ligt and Martinez don’t work as centre-back pairing

For the second consecutive fixture, Martinez and De Ligt started alongside each other at the heart of United’s defence.

Against Spurs, both of them were poor – like most of their teammates. Ten Hag kept faith with the pair but that decision backfired in spectacular fashion.

De Ligt’s failure to clear his lines led to Nico Gonzalez delivering a cross inside the box, that Mazraoui almost headed in past Onana. The Cameroonian goalkeeper got a hand to it but put the ball in the path of Pepe, who made no mistake from close range.

For Omorodion’s first goal, De Ligt was not strong enough as he just let the Porto striker get the better of him in the air.

The third goal was equally embarrassing. Martinez was outpaced in a foot race inside United’s territory. A cross was then delivered to Omorodion, who reacted faster than De Ligt to convert and in the process, handed Porto a much-deserved lead.

Omorodion had De Ligt’s number all game, with the Netherlands international struggling against the Porto forward’s physicality.

The first time Martinez and De Ligt started together was against Liverpool. On that occasion, United were hammered 3-0 at home. Since then, the two of them have started together four more times, including against Porto. They’ve tasted victory just once as a pairing, during a 3-0 win over Southampton.

It’s clear to see that they don’t complement each other and are not fit for purpose as a unit – something that was made even more glaring when Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans were thrust into the action later in the second half.

This is something Ten Hag and his coaching staff urgently need to sort out.

Feature image Octavio Passos via Getty Images

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