Manchester United opened the Europa League season with a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Erik ten Hag’s former club Twente.

Christian Eriksen put United ahead with a superb effort in the first half, but was then, like several of his team-mates, responsible for Twente’s equaliser when Sam Lammers scored midway through the second half.

United’s next Europa League match is at Porto on Thursday, October 3. Before that, they host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Laurie Whitwell and Carl Anka analyse the key talking points from Old Trafford…

Ten Hag’s old flame causes United pain

Ten Hag said he would rather not play against Twente because he did not want to hurt something he loves. Ten Hag was at Twente for 23 years as a player and coach. In the end, the only pain was on United’s side.

Twente celebrated this draw as if they had won a prize, with the players and staff singing a long chorus with the 4,000 fans in the away section after the final whistle. Analysts in the stands jumped up and hugged each other at the result.

It’s been a tough start to the campaign for United, with their run now standing at three wins, two draws and two defeats in all competitions. How significant this result will be in the complicated schedule of the expanded Europa League is hard to say, but it’s far from an ideal start.

Laurie Whitwell

Rashford shines on return to Ten Hag’s XI

Marcus Rashford was back in the starting line-up, underlining Ten Hag’s belief that his place on the Selhurst Park bench was a matter of rotation, and he played with great enjoyment.

The highlight of his performance came when he found Ricky van Wolfswinkel on the edge of the Twente box at the end of a Ronaldinho-style elastic, which left the Old Trafford crowd gasping. Rashford’s style had substance as he fed a pass to Lisando Martinez, although the defender’s shot was blocked.

Marcus Rashford drops the elastic nutmeg 👨‍🍳

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK photo.twitter.com/euoCddlwg1

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 25, 2024

Rashford has shown that skill to United fans before, but it’s been a while. Here it was a clear sign of his growing confidence. He had already given a hint of his mood by twice chipping the ball through his opponent’s legs. The second of those nutmegs saw Rashford chip the ball to Joshua Zirkzee in the box after a break when he had injected pace by leaping down the wing.

He seems to have a good rapport with Zirkzee, whose technique was also on display. The pair pulled off a neat one-two inside the box, Zirkzee feeding Rashford with a spinning backheel. But Rashford’s low cross was intercepted.

Rashford crossed again shortly after, this time the ball deflecting a fine margin past the boot of a stretching Zirkzee. It was a similar near miss for Zirkzee to create a chance for Crystal Palace.

In the second half, Rashford showed he can do the other side of the game too, bullying Youri Regeer off the ball to start an attack. All in all, despite not scoring, it was a lively return to the starting line-up for Rashford.

Laurie Whitwell

A mixed evening for Eriksen in midfield

There are few things in football more satisfying than a skilled player striking the ball cleanly and firmly. Eriksen’s goal in the 35th minute was a joy to watch.

It was because Diogo Dalot forced the issue in the final third and managed to create some space in the penalty area on the left. The ball got loose and came in the direction of Eriksen, who fired it firmly and neatly past Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall at the far post.

(Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)

The goal adds lustre to a purple patch for the central midfielder, who has gone from fringe player to selection favourite in recent weeks under Ten Hag. Wednesday’s game was the fourth in a row that Eriksen has started, with him bringing his trademark grace, cunning and cleverness to United’s midfield in the first half.

Denmark is a point of difference with Ten Hag’s midfield options; where Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro bring tackling intensity and Kobbie Mainoo press-resistance ball carrying. Eriksen brings consistent (and controlled) passing into the final third, and he doesn’t try to force the issue if he feels United are better off keeping the ball. United were flat for much of the first half against Twente, but Eriksen’s goal gave them a foothold from which to build.

Unfortunately, he lost that grip later in the second half. It was his heavy touch that capped a bizarre series of defending, allowing Lammers to race through and score Twente’s equaliser.

At 32 and with well-known defensive weaknesses, Eriksen will not be able to solve United’s long-standing midfield problem. That Ten Hag continues to select the Dane says a lot about the player and the club’s strange midfield construction.

Carl Anka

A collection of mistakes before Twente’s goal

An evening that seemed set to become routine, but United’s unspectacular victory was undone in the 68th minute, just after Ten Hag replaced Amad with Alejandro Garnacho.

Bart van Rooij received the ball after a goal kick at right back and decided to run through the middle. He managed to make his way into dangerous territory.

Rashford, who had played well, missed his challenge…

Bruno Fernandes made little effort to intervene…

And then Lisandro Martinez, who had been shown a yellow card not so long before, and Eriksen failed to apply enough pressure when he tried to sandwich him…

Harry Maguire took the initiative to step forward and dived in an attempt to stop Van Rooij’s momentum, but also missed, as the ball rolled between his legs…

Manuel Ugarte was forced to steal the ball, which he did by sliding inside… Van Rooij had covered about 60 metres at that point, all the way from right back to the final third.

The ball went to Eriksen, who badly misjudged the situation. He took a ball as if he had all the space and time he wanted…

But managed to give Lammers the chance to run away with the ball…

United suddenly found themselves completely vulnerable, with Lammers running into the penalty area, but André Onana could also have performed better.

He fell victim to Lammers who shaped a shot towards the far post and instead deflected it to the near side…

It meant the so-called “Steve McClaren derby” ended in a draw. McClaren was presented with a silver plaque before kick-off in recognition of his work at both clubs. He led Twente to their only Eredivisie title and won the treble at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson was on the pitch as part of the tribute.

Laurie Whitwell

What did Erik ten Hag say?

We bring this to you after he spoke at the post-match press conference.

What’s next for Manchester United?

Sunday September 29: Tottenham Hotspur (home), Premier League, 16:30 BST, 11:30 ET

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(Photo: Carl Recine/Getty Images)