Manchester United had to settle for a draw in their Europa League clash with Fenerbahce. Coming off the back of a hard-fought 2-1 Premier League win over Brentford, the Red Devils looked to carry their momentum into this game, but they couldn’t secure a second consecutive victory after the international break.
Christian Eriksen gave United an early lead with a stunning long-range strike in the 15th minute. Despite having control for much of the first half, the team nearly conceded before the break.
It took a crucial goal-line clearance from Manuel Ugarte and a brilliant double save by goalkeeper Andre Onana to preserve the lead, which even left Jose Mourinho in disbelief.
The start of the second half, however, saw United’s defense falter. Fenerbahce quickly equalized through a Youssef En-Nesyri header, with Victor Lindelof at fault for failing to jump and clear the ball.
Lindelof was immediately substituted after the goal, along with forward Joshua Zirkzee, who struggled throughout the match.
Zirkzee, who had been a surprise starter over the in-form Rasmus Hojlund, delivered a disappointing performance. Although he assisted Eriksen’s goal, the credit for that moment belonged largely to Eriksen’s brilliance in finishing the long-range effort. Over his 55 minutes on the field, Zirkzee completed just eight passes, won only two out of eight duels, and lost possession seven times.
His inability to make an impact in the attack stood out, especially as United’s £37 million signing.
With his lackluster display, Zirkzee was one of United’s poorest performers on the night, alongside Lindelof. His underwhelming outing likely means he’ll drop to the bench in the upcoming fixture against West Ham United, as Hojlund is expected to return to the starting lineup.
Given Hojlund’s past injury concerns, his absence was probably a precaution, but the Danish striker’s recent form makes him the logical choice to lead the attack moving forward.
United will hope for a more cohesive performance on Sunday to bounce back from this frustrating draw and regain their winning form in the Premier League.
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