Manchester United began their Europa League journey with a frustrating 1-1 draw against FC Twente at Old Trafford. Despite taking the lead through Christian Eriksen in the 35th minute, United failed to capitalize on their advantage and secure a comfortable win. The early goal suggested that United might cruise to victory, but it wasn’t to be.
In the second half, FC Twente found their way back into the game. A mistake by Eriksen allowed Sam Lammers to score, leveling the match with just over 20 minutes remaining. Lammers fired the ball past Andre Onana at his near post, sending Twente’s fans into jubilant celebrations, as if they had won the Europa League itself.
Twente’s performance was commendable, marked by passion and determination that earned them a deserved draw. In contrast, United’s result was a continuation of their struggles in European openers, with the last time they won such a match being back in 2020.
United manager Erik ten Hag, a lifelong Twente fan, was visibly upset with his team’s display. He criticized his players for not taking control of the game and for lacking the intensity needed to secure victory.
Ten Hag remarked, “It was the game of their life, they fought for every yard, and we didn’t. Ninety-nine percent is not enough; you have to give 100 percent. You have to kill the game and finish it off.”
While United were expected to come out in the second half and push for a decisive second goal, they failed to impose themselves, especially compared to their performance against Crystal Palace the previous weekend. They only truly threatened Twente’s defense in the final minutes of the match, by which time it was too late to claim all three points.
Ten Hag has worked hard to raise the standards at United, transforming the dressing room culture in his first season and ending an era of player power. However, he would have been concerned by Eriksen’s post-match comments, where he admitted that Twente appeared to be hungrier for the win than the United players.
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