Evening Standard
·25 September 2024
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·25 September 2024
Red Devils held as Christian Eriksen endures mixed night
Christian Eriksen followed a ferocious finish with a costly mistake as Manchester United began the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Erik ten Hag's former club FC Twente.
This was a continental campaign few expected the Red Devils to be embarking on having missed out on European qualification through the Premier League last term.
But May's shock FA Cup triumph against rivals Manchester City secured United a Europa League spot and they opened the new-look league phase in frustrating fashion against the Eredivisie side.
United boss Ten Hag spent a combined 23 years at Twente across three stints as a player and then in different coaching capacities, saying on the eve of the game: "It's not nice to have to hurt something you love."
Eriksen's first-half rocket put United on course to do just that, but the lowest-ranked side, in terms of UEFA's coefficient, heading to Old Trafford in this revamped group phase had other ideas.
Sam Lammers went close with an early strike and was not to be denied a famous Old Trafford goal, dispossessing Eriksen as the midfielder turned into danger and then all too easily beating Andre Onana in the second half.
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2 minutes ago
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3 minutes ago
Erik ten Hag was critical of his Manchester United side after they slipped to a 1-1 draw with FC Twente in the Europa League.
Christian Eriksen opened the scoring but gave the ball away in a crucial area to allow Sam Lammers to equalise.
And Ten Hag pulled no punches in his assessment of United after the game, telling TNT Sports: "We kept them alive, 1-0 up, controlling the game you have to be consistent and keep going. In the second half we dropped the level, gave the goal away.
"We didn't finish it off, we had to go for the second goal and so they stay alive and we get punished with a mistake from ourselves.
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47 minutes ago
Sam Lammers struck to deny Manchester United victory and earn FC Twente a 1-1 draw in the Europa League at Old Trafford.
Christian Eriksen had fired United ahead in the first half but it was the Dane who was caught with the ball allowing Lammers to level after the break.
Erik ten Hag will rue his side’s lack of urgency in the second half as he had to settle for a point against his old team.
Getty Images
1 hour ago
Twente’s away fans go wild as the full-time whistle blows to seal a famous draw for the Dutch side at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag may come under fire again after failing to win this one.
1 hour ago
90+2 mins: United can’t quite find the winner as Twente scramble the ball clear.
1 hour ago
89 mins: Kobbie Mainoo tries to spin after receiving the ball in the Twente box and goes down, but the referee waves away any penalty claims.
Bruno Fernandes is gesturing and looking frustrated now.
1 hour ago
87 mins: United are probing but Twente are holding firm so far.
It might be time to start pumping some long balls for Maguire to contest.
1 hour ago
83 mins: Garnacho tries to bend an effort in from just inside the box, but his strike goes over the bar.
1 hour ago
81 mins: CHANCE! Bruno Fernandes fires wide with the Twente keeper rooted.
Garnacho had got to the byline and provided a good cut-back in the build-up.
1 hour ago
79 mins: Ten Hag rolls the dice with a triple substitution, bringing on Mount, Hojlund and Mainoo for Zirkzee, Rashford and and Eriksen.