Feyenoord 1 Manchester United 0: Lacklustre United fall to opening Europa League defeat to superb Dutch league leaders
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MANCHESTER UNITED begun their Europa League campaign with a woefully lacklustre defeat to F eyenoord - as Jose Mourinho lost his second game in a row.
In a largely uneventful first half, a much-changed United could not make any attacking inroads while Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Dutch league leaders were 100% up for it and looked dangerous.
United's only chance of the half was Anthony Martial's volley from the edge of the box from Matteo Darmian's low cross, but it went just wide.
Jose Mourinho's side looked lacklustre throughout and after 79 minutes, Feyenoord attacked quickly down the right - Nicolai Jørgensen, who was offside, crossed to the edge of the box where Tonny Vilhena comes slide a shot low past David de Gea, who could probably have done better.
United could not get back in the game despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic's introduction, as their campaign got off to the worst possible start.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- United did not exactly give the impression they were up for the competition. It was a dull performance with little goalmouth action until Feyenoord scored.
- Dirk Kuyt and Brad Jones, both ex-Liverpool players, were reminders of United’s domestic rivalry and that they have a mid-October trip to Anfield.
- Feyenoord fans also sang You’ll Never Walk Alone before kick-off. Not exactly one for the United fans to join in with.
- United’s bus took a battering again. Last season fans attacked them at West Ham – this time the driver had trouble parking and a wing mirror took an almighty crack.
- Chris Smalling wore the captain’s armband but it was his first start of the season – showing where he is in the pecking order.
- Jamie Carragher savaged Paul Pogba after the Manchester derby. Here the world’s most expensive player started further forward – but still struggling to make an impact.
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- Do I Not Like That? Jose Mourinho made it clear he didn’t want to be in the Europa before kick-off at the scene where England infamously lost to Holland in 1993.
- Marcus Rashford was given a central role up front instead of on the flank. But he was well marked and found it difficult to find space.
- Capacity was reduced and netting all around the pitch after crowd trouble at Feyenoord’s ground last season. But supporters still let off a flare in the first half. United flag was taken down at half-time.
- Anthony Martial looks out of sorts at the moment. There is no confidence in his body language and he doesn’t look like beating his man.
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea 6, Darmian 7, Bailly 7, Smalling 6, Rojo 6, Herrera 7, Schneiderlin 6, Mata 6 (Young 6, 63), Pogba 6, Martial 6 (Depay 63, 6), Rashford 6 (Ibrahimovic 63, 8)
Subs not used: Carrick, Romero, Fosu-Mensah, Fellaini
THEY SAID
Jose Mourinho said: "Of course I am unhappy, the second half we will always in control, We were trying to win. It was in that moment when we lost the game, we were unlucky as he was clearly offside.