Every few days, an absolute howler seems to present itself in the football world. This time around, it was the turn of English giants Manchester United.
The Red Devils will be feeling as though they have shot themselves in the foot after giving away a two-goal lead to Turkish giants Galatasaray, coming away from knowing that they could have done better if it were not costly lapses of concentration.
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While Erik ten Hag has come under grave pressure in recent weeks, he would be feeling as though he was let down by his players as the Manchester side after avoidable mistakes in the build up to the goals they conceded.
Despite Alejandro Garnacho giving his side an early advantage, opening the scoring in the 11th minute with a thunderous left-footed strike followed by a cracking 18th minute goal by Bruno Fernandes who beat opposition goalkeeper Fernando Muslera from long range to double the visiting team's lead, United would become their own worst enemies by giving away fouls in crucial areas leading to them conceding avoidable goals.
Galatasaray got back into the game when they launched a wonderfully worked attack, finding holes in between their opponent's midfield and defence, and after getting into a dangerous area, Fernandes committed a foul just outside of the box. The subsequent free kick would lead to the home side pulling a goal back and pulling themselves back into the match courtesy of a Hakim Ziyech attempt that beat the wall and left goalkeeper Andre Onana wrong-footed.
The Cameroon international misjudged the flight of the ball and had he delayed his movements by perhaps just a second, it could be argued that he would have easily stopped the goal. One could even go as far as arguing that it was a save he definitely should have made and that the goal was because of an error from the keeper.
Scott McTominay then finished a great move by the visitors in which they worked the ball right from the keeper to the opposition's goals with silky passes and good off-the-ball movement. His 55th minute finish restored United's two-goal advantage.
However, what followed was the implosion. The Manchester club were unable to sustain their lead. What would have been more concerning for Ten Hag were the errors that led to the Turkish side's goals. For their second, it was once again Fernandes who rushed into a challenge and gave away a foul, that could probably have been avoided, on the edge of his side's box. What followed was almost incomprehensible: Onana's horrific attempt at trying to parry the ball away from danger when most goalkeepers would likely argue that it was a delivery that he should have caught and nullified the danger.
A powerful 71st minute strike by Muhammed Kerem Akturkoglu then brought Galatasaray to level terms. Perhaps, for this goal as well, it can be argued that despite the magnificence of the shot that sneaked its way into the near post, Onana could have dealt with it better. Nevertheless, the man who was brought in at the beginning of the season to replace David de Gea has cost his side some valuable points in their 2023/24 UEFA Champions League campaign and will continue to face heavy scrutiny as the club now need an unfathomable amount of luck in order to progress to the next round of the European tournament.
Despite Ten Hag stating after the game that, "It's always me [who is to blame for throwing away leads]" and taking responsibility for his side throwing away two points, he is sure to be at least a little bit upset with his players.
Now, the only way that they can proceed to the next round of the competition is if they beat Bayern Munich when the German giants visit Old Trafford in the last round of Group stage matches.
Not only do they have to record a win against the Bundesliga side if they are to advance, the fixture between Copenhagen and Galatasaray must end in a draw if United have any chance of advancing.
The question then is: Can Ten Hag's men hold their nerve and get the job done next time round?
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