Man Utd prevent unwanted European history as Rasmus Hojlund struggles again | OneFootball

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s sole Europa League game in charge saw Manchester United run out 2-0 winners over PAOK at Old Trafford this evening.

It was far from vintage United, but no one expected a throwback performance as the hosts struggled to get a foothold.

An opening half that yielded one shot on target made way for their go-ahead goal in the 50th minute when Bruno Fernandes floated a searching delivery into the box for the run of Amad Diallo, who peeled off his marker to reach the cross, arcing a looping header into the far corner of the net via the inside of the upright.

Amad, who came back into United’s starting lineup, was comfortably their best attacking player in the second half and sensationally doubled his efforts and the Red Devils’ lead. With 13 minutes left on the clock, he forced a turnover midway inside the PAOK half, and his persistence took him past Abdul Baba and to the edge of the area. He shifted the ball into a slightly more central position before unleashing a powerful effort into the far corner.

If there were nerves in the Old Trafford crowd, it soon disappeared after that second goal went in. Before tonight, United had gone in front in seven of their past eight games in Europe, winning once. Incoming head coach Ruben Amorim, who masterminded Sporting’s stunning 4-1 win over Manchester City 48 hours ago, would no doubt have been watching, and Amad could potentially find himself a prominent figure in Amorim’s set-up at United going forward.

It’s a possibility that Amad could be converted into a right-wing-back, especially if Fernandes plays inside of him in Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation. The new United boss successfully transitioned 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda into a wing-back earlier this season.

Could there be a place for Rasmus Højlund? Tonight was another meek showing from the Danish marksman, who registered two shots on goal with one on target. Højlund would touch the ball 16 times (twice in the opposition box) fewer than any of United’s starters while making four passes from six attempts.

Having only scored twice in all competitions this season from ten appearances, some are sympathetic to his plight, including the Premier League’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer, who believes that United is to blame for Hojlund’s struggles.

“There’s no doubt that Amorim will want to bring a centre-forward in, because that’s one of the positions they need to strengthen. But I do like Hojlund and I think it’s been really unfair what’s happened to him during his brief time at Old Trafford,” he told The Athletic.

“The fee was huge, the pressure was huge and he wasn’t ready to lead the line on a regular basis. He would have been far better suited to be in and out, to learn and develop, rather than go in and be the No 1 for a club like Manchester United straight away.

“Had it been done differently, it would have been better for him and for his time. But given the circumstances he faced when he arrived, he’s had to play far more than he really should have done. But he’s a really promising player and I like a lot of what I see.”

If anyone could part wisdom, it’s Van Nistelrooy, who offered Højlund some words before tonight’s game.

“My advice? Stay calm and believe in himself, believes in his qualities. Like I do and his team-mates do. He knows he’s young and he’s promising and the daily work he puts in will pay off in the end. Not only for him but his team-mates. And I’m confident in that,” Van Nistelrooy said.

“I mean, most goals are scored in the penalty area, it’s where we want to get our players as much as we can, but it depends on the games. There have been games where we’ve arrived many, many times, creating many chances.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert them all and that cost us a couple of results. But you have to deal with circumstances. When it’s needed, to hold up play and get players into the third-man position and play on from there, he does a brilliant job [with that] as well.

“And, of course, he is a guy who can change a game in a second, like with the penalty moment [against Chelsea ]. We just need one or two in the box, and you can be him but it can be the others as well, so that’s a threat we always have.”

PAOK never looked like getting back in the game, and Van Nistelrooy remains unbeaten as interim boss (two wins and one draw). In doing so, they snapped a six-match winless streak in major European competitions, their worst run since 1980 to 1983 (also six). United have never previously gone seven without a win, and they will not be anytime soon.