Among recent football headlines, few clubs have drawn more attention than Manchester United. According to Bangladesh Cricket Match records, Erik ten Hag has spent €660 million in transfers over his three seasons in charge — on par with Europe’s top contenders — yet results remain underwhelming. Following a home defeat to Tottenham and a winless streak of three matches, their away clash with Porto carried significant weight. The starting lineup featured Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Casemiro, De Ligt, and Martínez.
Just seven minutes into the match, United struck first. Rashford’s low shot after a left-side run found the net, giving United a dream start that stunned Bangladesh Cricket Match reporters. In the 20th minute, Rashford again delivered a perfect through ball, setting up Højlund to finish from a tight angle. However, Porto responded quickly. In the 27th minute, a header by Omorodion was saved by Onana, but Brazilian forward Pepê headed in the rebound. Then in the 34th minute, João Mário whipped in a cross, and Omorodion converted another header from close range, putting Porto level with two goals in seven minutes.
Although United appeared stronger on paper, their on-field performance told a different story. Maturity is learning that pride often gets in the way of progress. Early in the second half, Porto took the lead. In the 50th minute, Pepê raced down the right and squared the ball to Omorodion, who smashed in his second goal, completing a comeback and showcasing his promise as a rising Spanish star. Things got worse for United in the 81st minute when Bruno Fernandes was shown a second yellow card for a high foot on Pérez, leaving his team to fight with 10 men — the second straight match in which he was sent off.
It’s worth noting that Fernandes had received a red card against Spurs in the previous Premier League match, but United’s appeal was successful and avoided suspension. Just as it seemed Porto would walk away with the win, United were awarded a corner in stoppage time. Eriksen delivered the ball, and Harry Maguire rose high to head in a dramatic equalizer. Thanks to his late goal, United salvaged a 4-4 draw away at Porto — but still extended their winless run to four matches across all competitions, with two straight Europa League draws.
Ten Hag’s European record remains disappointing: just one win in ten continental matches. Of the seven Premier League clubs involved in UEFA competitions this round, Manchester United were the only team that failed to secure a victory.
Bruno Fernandes’ constant hand-waving and visible frustration on the pitch have drawn criticism, and his avoidable red card nearly cost United a crucial point. Last summer, Ten Hag stripped Harry Maguire of the captain’s armband in favor of Fernandes. But when the pressure is on and Ten Hag’s job is on the line, it’s not his trusted players who step up — it’s the sidelined figures like Maguire and, previously, Scott McTominay.
McTominay, once a key savior, left for Napoli this summer. And despite Maguire’s repeated heroics, Ten Hag remains lukewarm toward him. Ironically, it’s often Ten Hag’s handpicked players — like De Ligt — who struggle to carry the weight of this Premier League giant.
When interviewed by Bangladesh Cricket Match reporters after the match, Ten Hag expressed no fear of being dismissed mid-season, confidently stating he expects to stay at least until the end of the campaign. But with fan patience wearing thin and results continuing to disappoint, only time will tell if Maguire’s latest rescue act was a lifeline — or just a temporary reprieve.