Manchester United's recent 1-1 draw against Dutch side Twente in the Europa League has raised questions about whether the club is truly making progress under Erik ten Hag. Despite starting the season with optimism following an FA Cup victory, managerial backing, and new signings, the team's performances have been inconsistent. After just seven games into the new season, the same old issues appear to be resurfacing at Old Trafford, with familiar excuses for underwhelming results being voiced.
The game against Twente saw a smattering of boos from fans at the final whistle, suggesting growing frustration, though not quite reaching mutiny levels yet. What was particularly worrying was Ten Hag agreeing with midfielder Christian Eriksen's post-match comment that Twente "wanted it more," a sentiment that does not reflect well on Manchester United. Eriksen acknowledged that the 1-1 draw felt like a loss, emphasizing that the opposition's determination outmatched United's effort, something that should not happen at a club of their stature.
This season, United has won just three of their eight games, including a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield. With two draws and three losses already, it is their worst start under Ten Hag compared to his previous two seasons. Although there have been improvements in defensive solidity, United's overall performance has been lacking, particularly in attack. The draw with Twente highlighted these ongoing struggles, leading to concerns about whether the team is truly making the progress needed to challenge at the top level.
One of the few positive performances came in a 7-0 victory over League One side Barnsley in the EFL Cup, a rare occasion when United managed to score more than one goal. However, scoring has been a persistent issue, with Alejandro Garnacho being the club's top scorer with just four goals, two of which came against Barnsley. No other United player has managed more than one Premier League goal so far this season.
Ten Hag, known for his reliance on expected goals (xG) statistics, is well aware that his side has underperformed in terms of chance conversion. United has underachieved in five of their seven competitive games this season, with a low chance conversion rate of seven percent. Major attacking players have scored fewer goals than their xG suggests they should, a problem that needs addressing if they are to improve their goal-scoring output. In contrast, Twente capitalized on their opportunity when it came, with Ten Hag admitting that they fought harder than United did in key moments of the game.
Ten Hag was critical of his team's mentality in the match, stating that "ninety-nine per cent is not enough." He acknowledged that his team’s attitude was often commendable but was lacking in this instance. He also shouldered some of the responsibility, noting that the team, including himself, needs to look in the mirror to address these issues. He recognized that United is struggling to score goals and failing to finish off games when they should.
The draw against Twente continued a worrying trend for Manchester United in European competition, marking the fourth consecutive season in which they have failed to win their opening match in a major European tournament. While the new single-league format of the Europa League offers some respite, as United could still qualify for the knockout stages even if they finish 24th, external criticism is growing. If their current form does not improve soon, pressure on Ten Hag is likely to intensify.
Former United player Owen Hargreaves criticized the team's inability to convert their chances, despite having 19 shots on goal. He noted that United's lack of ruthlessness was a stark contrast to the club's historical ability to produce match-winners. Players like Bruno Fernandes and new signing Joshua Zirkzee came close to securing the win, but ultimately United failed to dominate their opponents in the manner that successful teams do.
The presence of Sir Alex Ferguson at the match, presenting a plate to former United assistant Steve McClaren, was a reminder of the club’s storied past and what it used to represent. Hargreaves, who was part of United's last Champions League-winning side in 2008, emphasized that the current team must rise to the occasion and find solutions quickly if they are to turn their season around.
Defensively, there have been improvements compared to last season. United’s goals-conceded-per-game rate is now below one, a positive sign despite the team conceding three goals in their September 1st loss to Liverpool. However, these defensive improvements alone are not enough to mask the team's wider issues, particularly in attack and mentality.
Looking ahead, United faces a challenging run of fixtures, starting with Tottenham's visit to Old Trafford. While Tottenham has also had a poor start to the season, the game presents an opportunity for United to prove their resilience. Following that, United will travel to Portugal to face Porto, a side surprisingly beaten in their Europa League opener by Bodo/Glimt. A trip to Aston Villa shortly after will further test Ten Hag's side, and another international
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