United beat FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford and would have undoubtedly been keen on a similar result in order to advance to the next round of the competition.

Erik ten Hag started Andre Onana in goal with a defensive four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Diogo Dalot ahead of the Cameroonian goalkeeper.

In midfielder, Ten Hag gave the nod to Christian Eriksen, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes.

Rasmus Hojlund led the line with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on either wing. Here are three things we learned from Manchester United’s 4-3 loss against FC Copenhagen.

Give Hojlund goalscoring chances and he will score

United started the game in breathtaking fashion through Hojlund who scored two goals in the third and 28th minute respectively.

For the first, a brilliant pass from Wan-Bissaka to find McTominay set the Scotland international very well inside the Copenhagen box. McTominay produced a stunning cross to Hojlund who was arriving at the back post.

The striker made no mistake from close range.

For Hojlund’s second, Garnacho tried to plant the ball into the back of the net but his shot was saved by Kamil Grabara. Luckily for United Hojlund was at the right place to score from the spilled save to give United a two-goal lead.

The 20-year-old is the first ever player to score five goals in his first four Champions League games for the 20-time English champions.

Rasmus Højlund is the first ever player to score five goals in his first four Champions League games for Manchester United.#UCL pic.twitter.com/ugACN43Ks9

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 8, 2023

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, a  seemingly ridiculous VAR intervention to send Rashford off led to events spiralling out of control to allow Copenhagen an avenue back into the game.

By the time both teams were heading down the tunnel, Jacob Neestrup’s men had restored parity.

Throughout the season, Hojlund’s teammates have been accused of not creating enough opportunities for him, especially in the Premier League where the Dane is yet to open his goalscoring account.

It’s clear that when presented with the chances during games, Hojlund certainly has the ability to score and make his mark. It’s up to the rest of the team to create for him.

United collapsed in the second half

During large parts of the second half while a man down, United seemed defensively sound and compact enough.

The Reds even took the lead momentarily after Fernandes dispatched a powerful shot from the penalty spot into the back of the net.

However, a big defensive mistake from Dalot allowed Lukas Lerager to draw Copenhagen level once more.

Dalot did not notice Lerager behind them and the rival star was all too happy to creep in and score.

Just four minutes later, United failed to deal with a cross inside the box. The ball found Roony Bardghji who expertly connected with it to give Onana no chance of saving the ball.

All of United’s good work was undone in a few minutes in which some players lost concentration and let the moment get to them.

United’s Champions League dream hanging by a thread

As a result of their defeat at Parken, United’s dreams of making it out of Group A and advancing to the next round of the competition are hanging by a thread.

At the moment. the 20-time English champions are in the bottom position in their group with just three points.

Galatasaray who were beaten by two goals at the Allianz Arena by Bayern Munich, are a point above United.

United are now facing an uphill battle to make it to the round of 16 and will need big performances against Galatasaray and Bayern Munich.

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Fresh off the back of an embarrassing defeat against Manchester City on Sunday, no doubt Erik ten Hag would have been keen to get his side back to winning ways and in the process, relieve some mounting pressure.

Ten Hag started Andre Onana in goal. In defence, the United boss gave the nod to Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Sergio Reguilon.

Casemiro returned back into the starting XI and slotted next to Hannibal Mejbri and Mason Mount in midfield.

Anthony Martial led the line with Alejandro Garnacho and Antony on either side of the Frenchman. Here are three things we learned from Manchester United’s 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle.

United are extremely poor defensively

The Red Devils demonstrated some control in the early stages of the work but as has been the norm this season, they could only sustain pressure and possession of the ball for roughly 20 minutes before the opposition grew into the game.

Newcastle took some time to get going but when they did, Ten Hag’s men barely had a sniff and primarily played second fiddle.

The Magpies created the most chances and got their reward in the 28th minute when Livramento easily cut through the midfield.

The Newcastle right-back powered through the middle of the park and effortlessly shook off Mount and Hannibal, who were left in his wake.

Livramento then passed the ball to Almiron. Dalot looked to be tracking the Newcastle sub, but the Portuguese defender lost his man who then went through on goal before putting the ball into the back of the net, beyond the reach of Onana.

It was a streak of costly defensive blunders from United which saw Newcastle take the lead.

For the second, Dalot was tricked inside his own box by a rival player who used his pace and tricky feet to bypass the United man.

Ten Hag’s players failed in their objective to clear the ball which landed on the feet of Lewis Hall just outside the box. Hall fired a shot which Onana could not keep out, to give Newcastle a two-goal lead heading into the break.

Newcastle’s third of the match came about as a result of Sofyan Amrabat being harried and dispossessed of the ball.

Willock then let loose a shot into the bottom-right corner to all but seal the win for his side and add to United’s woes.

This term, United have been made to suffer dearly for their laxity and defensive mistakes. These errors were harshly punished by the Toon who were ruthless in their execution.

It’s worrying how easily United are cut open and the number of chances they concede during games. There is simply no cohesion on the pitch and it’s hardly surprising that the backline often finds itself exposed.

Ten Hag has recently been speaking about the need to be pragmatic and direct but such a brand of football requires the team to be defensively compact and solid.

As the Dutchman seeks to stem the bleeding and get his side back to getting results, the defensive structure is an aspect of the game that will need to be addressed urgently.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka barely has a fight on his hands for a starting berth

Wan-Bissaka was the surprise inclusion in the United matchday squad.

The Englishman has not featured for the 20-time English champions since the loss vs. Brighton on September 16.

He returned to training just days ago and it seems he was given a clean bill of health to participate if needed against Newcastle.

Dalot had a nightmare during the 45 minutes he was on the pitch and if there were any doubts about whether Wan-Bissaka’s starting status should be immediately restored, these concerns were put to bed.

In Wan-Bissaka’s absence, Dalot has been decent and has done a relatively good job but against Newcastle, he proved that Wan-Bissaka does not need to do much to be above him in the pecking order.

United in shambles

United have now lost eight of their 15 games across all competitions.

After the City game, questions started being asked of Ten Hag’s tenure in the Old Trafford dugout and just how safe his job really is as the club continues to struggle.

A report covered by The Peoples Person indicated that the board and power brokers within United are still backing the 53-year-old coach.

However, one gets the feeling that he is no longer as bulletproof as he once was – the pitchforks are certainly coming out.

Both at half-time and the final whistle, there were audible boos from the crowd who were clearly exasperated by what they saw.

It did not help that the travelling Newcastle supporters incessantly kept singing “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” in reference to the extreme pressure that is mounting on Ten Hag and his staff.

Amidst rumours of unrest in the dressing room and players not really taking to Ten Hag’s methods, it’s not looking good for the former Ajax manager.

The players look completely short of confidence and lack any drive or desire to do even the most basic things.

The situation on the pitch is just as bad off it, what with the imminent partial investment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the uncertainty that his overhaul of sporting operations could bring.

United are undoubtedly a club in turmoil and an end to the misfortunes does not seem to be near.

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(A score of 6 is around average)

Andre Onana 5- Gets low points for being the goalkeeper that conceded two but in reality, he was left helpless by the defence for both.

Diogo Dalot 2- His game screams “fatigue” at the moment. Had a torrid time in both attack and defence. Made makeshift fullback Miguel Almiron look like a dynamo on his flank. Was relieved by Ten Hag at half-time, off for Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Harry Maguire 4- Was indirectly responsible for Lewis Hall’s goal as his header fell to the player for the second goal. The “renaissance” talks were always premature, the last two games have proved it.

Victor Lindelof 3- Restored to his natural centre-back position but there was no improvement in form to show for it. The whole defence looked at sea every time Newcastle attacked and he didn’t help.

Sergio Reguilon 4- Can’t really be directly blamed for any goal but was signed as an emergency third option and has played like one. United need more.

Casemiro 3- Got his customary booking early in the first half and picked up right where he left off pre-injury. He might actually be done at the top level, at least in a deeper position. Subbed off at half-time.

Hannibal 3- Could say he was “eager to impress” but in reality, was just plain poor decision-making as he pretty much dared the referee to send him off throughout his stint.

Mason Mount 4- Tested the goalkeeper with a sighter from long range but doesn’t look like a £60 million player right now, let alone a United No. 7.

Antony 2- Can’t really say anything about Antony that hasn’t been said already. His bad performances are like clockwork at this point. Biggest blot on Erik ten Hag’s recruitment at United.

Alejandro Garnacho 4- Ran fast and hard, but no quality in the final third. Showed why he’s rarely trusted to start games, especially when teams give no space in behind.

Anthony Martial 2- Rasmus Hojlund will feel no threat for his place anytime soon. Anonymous display from the Frenchman and ideally, should be one of his last appearances for the club.

Substitutes:

Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6- Provided crucial thrust and overlap on the right when he came on. If he keeps up the encouraging signs, it will be a huge boost to United.

Sofyan Amrabat 3- In competition with Casemiro to see which defensive midfielder is in worse form. Dispossessed for Newcastle’s third.

Rasmus Hojlund 6- He’s the crowd favourite at least but the predicament he finds himself in is too much for his 20-year-old shoulders.

Marcus Rashford 5- Body language is a perennial problem with him. No attacking impact or impetus after coming on.

Bruno Fernandes 5- Missed a good chance to at least open United’s account but nothing going right for the United captain right now.

MANAGER ERIK TEN HAG 2: The losses are piling up, and the excuses are shrinking. Newcastle walked to Old Trafford with second-stringers and had United feeling dizzy. Doesn’t get one because at least there was rotation in the starting XI. Otherwise, there’s no structure and identity to United’s play at the moment. The clock is ticking now.

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The three were included in the star-studded team for their valuable contributions during United’s dramatic 1-0 win against FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

With the game on a knife edge and the Red Devils growing desperate, it was Maguire who leapt highest to score the winner.

The England international got on the end of a brilliant cross from second-half substitute Christian Eriksen to plant it into the bottom-left corner.

In addition to the goal, Maguire was extremely solid at the back and formed a solid centre-back partnership with Raphael Varane.

In what was his third consecutive start for United across all competitions, the former club skipper currently seems to be enjoying a kind of renaissance.

FC Copenhagen were awarded a late penalty when Scott McTominay was penalised for risky play inside the box with his boot adjudged to have been too high.

Jacob Neestrup’s men were given a golden chance to equalize and get a share of the spoils. However, Onana came up trumps and saved the penalty.

The Cameroonian has endured a difficult start to life but when needed the most, came up with the goods to secure the win for United and kept his side’s hopes of still making it out of Group A alive.

Dalot is another one who had a brilliant game, fresh off a stunning goal against Sheffield United just a few days before.

During a period in which Ten Hag has had to deal with multiple injuries to key players in the defensive department, Dalot has massively stepped up and ensured the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have not been missed too badly.

Other players on Sofascore’s UEFA Champions League XI include Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji and RB Leipzig’s David Raum at the back.

In midfield, Sofascore put in Xavi Simons, Rodri and Brais Méndez of Real Sociedad.

The attack was led by Porto’s Evanilson who grabbed a hat trick, with his teammate Mehdi Taremi and Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus on either side of him.

| Team of the Week

Our latest UEFA Champions League TOTW is here!

Six sides are represented in here, with players from two Manchester clubs making up almost half of our XI.

Porto's hat-trick hero Evanilson is our #UCL Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/d3ZMKMzXjA

— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) October 26, 2023

United face Manchester City next in a high-stakes derby clash on Sunday.

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United beat the Blades by two goals to one.

Scott McTominay opened the scoring, but the Red Devils lost their lead just six minutes later when Oli McBurnie converted his penalty.

Dalot came up with a moment of brilliance in the second half when he fired a ferocious shot that flew into the back of the net from outside the box.

The defender spoke to MUTV after the final whistle and opened up on the thinking process that went into his goal.

Dalot said, “I could see the ‘keeper’s hand getting close, so I thought he might save it, but when the ball goes in, the feeling of seeing the fans behind the goal celebrating, I think it was a fantastic moment.”

The Portugal international paid tribute to United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, whose passing was confirmed by his family just hours before the clash at Bramall Lane.

Dalot explained that he and his teammates were motivated to win in memory of Sir Bobby.

“I take this opportunity to dedicate this win to Sir Bobby and his family. It was a very sad day for the club, but I think we contributed the best we could, which was to win the game and secure three points.”

“I think in these moments, when everything seems to be said, we have to find a way to see happiness and I hope with this win today, we could give some joy to the family.”

The 24-year-old said he enjoyed the atmosphere at Sheffield United’s home, and indicated that the match was a “proper English game.”

Dalot pointed out that the aim of the team is to win at all costs, even when things don’t go according to plan.

“I think this is how fans love to see games here in England and we have to find a way to win when we don’t play good football. Sometimes we are not right tactically and in the first half, we took longer than we should have to set up.”

He added, “When we came to half-time, the manager told us what to do and we did it better in the second half. This is what brings us confidence, is winning games at this club. This is the standard. We need the three points no matter what on Tuesday [Copenhagen] and I hope the fans, like always, will be there with us.”

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Manchester United came away with a narrow 2-1 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday night to gain a crucial three points as they look to rebuild their Premier League season.

While Man United maintained 62% possession and took 14 shots, a lack of shot accuracy as well as energy almost saw them throw away what should have been a straightforward win against a newly-promoted side.

Fortunately, right-back Diogo Dalot proved clinical enough to secure the victory for the visitors.

At the back, the Portuguese defender’s impact was minimal.

Dalot made just one clearance and one tackle throughout the match.

He was easily beaten by Sheffield striker Cameron Archer, whose effort would have found the back of the net had it not been for a last-ditch save by Andre Onana.

While Dalot may have only been dribbled past once the entire match, this crucial slip-up could have easily seen United lose out on victory had the outcome been different.

On the attack, however, the 24 year old produced a promising display.

He had 74 touches, the fifth-highest of both teams, while attempting five crosses, two of which found their target.

Dalot also successfully completed two of his five long balls; another area where he will clearly need to improve upon.

Completing just 37 of his 51 passes, Dalot’s 73% pass accuracy is yet another statistic where the Portuguese full-back must improve if he is to remain a permanent member of the starting 11 upon Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s return from injury.

Still, Dalot’s performance was not all bad, as he did manage to complete both of his attempted dribbles.

Undoubtedly, Dalot’s best moment of the night came in the 77th minute, when he got on the end of a Victor Lindelof pass to hammer home the winner for United – his only shot of the game.

Although his overall performance was mixed at best, Dalot yet again proved that he has the ability to show up when his team needs him most – a trait that Ten Hag will surely take into consideration when selecting his squad going forward.

(Stats via Sofascore)

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(A score of 6 is around average)

Andre Onana 6- A penalty he could do nothing about but was still an upgrade over his usual below-par performances. Made some good saves to keep Sheffield at bay.

Diogo Dalot 7- All was forgiven in a shaky overall performance as he thumped one in from outside the box which was an unstoppable shot and ended up being the winner.

Harry Maguire 6 – Was composed in defence apart from some nervous moments but looks to have settled into his role in the team now. Upgrades still to be had at the position but fine for now.

Jonny Evans 7- Looked the best of the four defenders as he marshalled the defence to the best of his abilities and used his left foot for some good diagonals. It’s been a successful turnaround in reputation as fans will hope his injury is not too serious.

Victor Lindelof 5- Another chastening night at left-back. Sergio Reguilon’s return can’t come soon enough so he can be put out of his misery. Makes Rashford’s job more difficult as he’s not natural at overlapping.

Sofyan Amrabat 5 – A plodding display from the usually energetic Moroccan as the midfield got bypassed too easily on a few occasions. Almost scored with a scorcher from outside the box but was denied by the crossbar.

Scott McTominay 4- Scored the goal with his trademark instinctive finish but conceded a penalty after the ball hit his hand. Safe in possession but United need much more from their midfielders.

Bruno Fernandes 6- Played a lot of passes that came to nothing but ended up with an assist from one that did. Nearly restored United’s advantage with a free kick that struck the post. Never goes into hiding even when things aren’t going his way.

Antony 3- Another anonymous display and he will soon become an £85 million problem if he keeps this up. Was willing to track back but that’s about it. Hooked off at the hour mark.

Marcus Rashford 6- Was willing to try things to get past Sheffield’s stubborn defence but the same old problem of decision-making persists with him and stops him from taking the jump from “good” to “world-class”.

Rasmus Hojlund 6- Almost got his maiden Premier League goal after Rashford’s shot turned into his path but got denied by a good save. Makes good runs and busts his gut to get at the end of balls. He’ll come good when the team starts creating.

Substitutes:

Christian Eriksen 7- The passing becomes quick, crisp, and purposeful when he’s on the pitch. Surely knocking on the door for a first-team place now.

Anthony Martial 6- Showed improved hold-up play than he usually does but still looks like a clear downgrade on Hojlund.

Alejandro Garnacho 7- Provided thrust and initiative to a laboured attack with his energetic and incisive runs.

Raphael Varane 6- Came on for injured Evans to shore up the defence.

Mason Mount 6- Not much impact.

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Manchester United defender, Diogo Dalot, has humorously responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments about the younger generation’s obsession with technology.

The interaction took place while both players were on international duty with Portugal.

In a revealing interview with Piers Morgan back in November 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, expressed his concerns about the younger generation of footballers.

The iconic forward, during the interview, criticised Manchester United and its manager Erik ten Hag, among other subjects. A significant portion of the interview was dedicated to Ronaldo’s frustration with younger players, whom he felt were too engrossed in their phones.

He commented on their differing “hunger”, suggesting that they have things easier and are often distracted by new technologies.

Ronaldo elaborated, “I don’t mean only a few in Manchester United, but all the teams in all leagues in the world, the youngsters are not the same of my generation. But you cannot blame them, because it’s part of the life and the new generation, the new technologies that distract them.”

However, Diogo Dalot, who is 14 years Ronaldo’s junior, took the opportunity to jestingly counter Ronaldo’s claim.

On Instagram, Dalot shared a story where he was seated next to Ronaldo, who was engrossed in his phone. The caption read, “This new generation is always on the phone”, tagging the legendary forward, thereby highlighting the irony.

In other news, during the October international break, Portugal is set to face Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in consecutive Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Currently, the Portuguese team, led by Ronaldo, is in stellar form, having triumphed in all their Group J qualifiers. They’ve netted an impressive 24 goals without conceding any.

Furthermore, there are speculations that the Euro 2024 might not be Ronaldo’s last major international appearance. Recent reports suggest that the Portuguese captain is eyeing the 2026 World Cup.

If he participates, Ronaldo, at 41, would become the first player to feature in six World Cup tournaments.

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This is according to Football Transfers, who report that Ten Hag is keen on signing a right-back as he is unsure about the suitability of his current options – Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Mukiele joined PSG from RB Leipzig in 2022 for a fee of £13.5million.

However, the 25-year-old has found life at the Parc des Princes extremely difficult. He has struggled for first-team minutes with the Ligue 1 champions.

“Erik Ten Hag wants to bring in a right back to Manchester United in January and sees Paris Saint-Germain defender Nordi Mukiele as a viable target, FootballTransfers has been told.”

“The Dutchman is a fan of the Frenchman’s versatility, given that he can play at centre-back either on the right or left, while he also has been deployed on the flank before.”

It’s understood that the Red Devils thought about bringing in Mukiele last summer but ultimately, a decision was made to hand Dalot and Wan-Bissaka the chance to prove themselves.

The belief is that neither of the two current United stars have been totally convincing so far.

As per Football Transfers, Ten Hag has doubts over Wan-Bissaka’s temperament and whether the Englishman has what it takes to be part of a title-winning side.

On the other hand, there are apparently concerns over Dalot’s physicality and his defensive abilities.

Dalot’s struggles in containing the tricky Wilfried Zaha during United’s loss against Galatasaray on Tuesday are seen as an instance of the Portuguese’s shortcomings.

Within Old Trafford, Mukiele is seen as an upgrade.

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United lost yet again, this time in the Champions League to Galatasaray.

Rasmus Hojlund’s brace was not enough to secure a victory for Erik ten Hag’s men who were sloppy defensively – mistakes the opposition were all too happy to capitalise on.

Dalot spoke to the press after the game and adopted a positive tone amidst all the criticism and external noise from disgruntled and concerned supporters.

He took the opportunity to praise his captain despite the midfielder’s poor display during the match. Dalot said, “I think Bruno’s ability and influence on a team like ours is remarkable.”

“Not just because of his footballing qualities, which are unanimous, but also because of what he gives the team off the pitch, the leadership he has, the energy he gives.”

He added, “Having players like that is always an advantage for us, and a positive experience for every player who has the ability to play with him.”

“This is the third year I’ve been with him, I share a changing room with him, and every season we’ve grown, and I think with his help it’s easier for us to be in the best condition on the pitch.”

Dalot was also questioned about his own performance. In some instances, the right-back was not at his best. He was partly responsible for Galatasaray’s first goal.

A determined Wilfried Zaha put himself between the ball and Dalot and demonstrated tremendous strength to hold off the United star before acrobatically firing a shot that hit the full-back on the leg on its way into the back of the net.

Dalot seemed to struggle to contain the tricky Zaha, who had a lot of joy on the flank.

The Portugal international remarked that he is aware of the need to constantly improve and level up while playing for a club of United’s size and prestige.

He pinpointed his “physical capacity” as one attribute that he can provide to the team in plenty. He also reiterated his desire to play as many games as possible and help the Red Devils overturn the predicament they currently find themselves in.

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