Possession lost 11x in 33 minutes: One Utd starter may as well have worn a Plzen shirt in the first half

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·12 de dezembro de 2024

Possession lost 11x in 33 minutes: One Utd starter may as well have worn a Plzen shirt in the first half

Manchester United are currently trailing 1-0 away to Viktoria Plzen in their sixth Europa League game of the first phase.

Both sides were unbeaten heading into the clash and held identical records of two wins and three draws each.

Vídeos OneFootball

That could all be about to change if tonight’s affair continues in its current state, though. Andre Onana gifted Plzen their opener when trying – and subsequently failing – to play out from the back, instead passing the ball directly to Pavel Sulc, who was able to play in Matej Vydra for one of the easiest goals of his career to date.

Onana isn’t the only Red having an absolute howler, though. Despite embarking on an easy-on-the-eye solo run just moments after kick-off, Joshua Zirkzee may as well have been wearing the opposition’s colours, given how he fared in the first half. Per Rob Dawson of ESPN, the forward lost possession a whopping 11 times in only 33 minutes.

A(nother) night to forget for Zirkzee

(Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Zirkzee was deployed from the off to make only his second start under Ruben Amorim, the first being at home to Everton on December 1, during which he returned two goals.

If his performance tonight is anything to go by, the boss won’t be rushing to restore his place in the 11 for Sunday’s trip to the Etihad. Even in their dismal form, being awarded the ball so frequently in the middle of the park could prove detrimental against a more clinical team.

Nonetheless, Zirkzee has since been replaced by Mason Mount. Plenty to play for in Czechia.