Manchester United

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Manchester United’s Treble-winning midfielder Jesper Blomqvist says "it is really hard to watch" his former club in the present.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live following the draw at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, Blomqvist said: "It is a strength when you are one man down to get an equaliser as it shows a bit of character - but I can't really see it helping Erik ten Hag [in the long run].

"Porto is a tough place to go but you still expect more from Manchester United. I also don't think you can look at it as just one game. They have one win out of 10 in the Europa League and that has to be looked at. That is not good enough.

"It is really tricky when everything starts going against you as it is hard to get team spirit. But a lot of these players have been recruited by Ten Hag so they should be working really hard in order for him to stay.

"A lot has been said by Ten Hag in recent weeks, but he is running out of excuses."

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BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering reader's questions on all things Premier League.

Katy asked: Marcus Rashford was fantastic in the first half against Porto so are people going to climb off his back any time soon do we think?"

Simon said: "Hiya Katy. I feels as though Rashford is one of those players people like to criticise for what they don’t do, rather than what they do. The movement and control that carried him into the penalty area for United’s opener last night was sensational. Not many players are capable of that and it is why I would always want Rashford in my team.

"I do think there are issues in terms of closing opponents down and leading the press. He is moving into the prime of his career so there can be no excuses on that score any more.

"But he remains an excellent player and when the confidence is flowing, he is very difficult to stop."

Read the rest of Simon's Q&A, as well as the latest football news, on our daily live page

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone is answering your Manchester United related questions.

PS asked: Hi Simon, the two people most responsible for hiring and firing managers at Manchester United, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Dan Ashworth, were presumably not part of the decision to stick with Erik ten Hag as they joined after.

Do you think it would have been a different decision if those two were involved? And would it have a bearing on Ten Hag's future now?

Simon replied: "When I – along with a few other journalists – spoke to Berrada and Ashworth on the morning of the Liverpool game, they said they played no part in the decision to keep Ten Hag but were supportive of it. We have no choice other than to take those comments at face value.

The key issue is who would have replaced Ten Hag? United resolved there was no-one around who was better. Would Berrada and Ashworth have unearthed someone United had not already looked at? That seems doubtful to me.

A senior executive at another Premier League club told me in the summer that no managerial appointment was without risk. You can only do your due diligence, make what you feel is an honest decision and hope it works out. Ten Hag had just won the FA Cup, thrillingly, against Manchester City.

There is no guarantee anyone else would have done any better this season.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone is answering your Manchester United questions.

Jason asked: Jurgen Klopp is available - could Manchester United bring him out of retirement?

Simon replied: Hiya Jason. Is this a serious question? There is an absolutely legitimate argument about why United didn’t work harder to get Klopp when he was at Borussia Dortmund because he always struck me as having the perfect personality to be a Manchester United manager, which is a tough job for anyone.

However, he went to Liverpool, one of the greatest clubs in the world, and built his legacy in English football there. Why would he risk his reputation as a manager and destroy it as a club legend by moving to Old Trafford?

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We asked for your views on Manchester United's 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League as Harry Maguire's stoppage-time header rescued a point for Erik ten Hag's side.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: I have been a Man Utd supporter since 1960. Whatever the results tonight and Sunday, Ten Hag must go . The criticisms levelled at the team's performances are so damning that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has no option. Many of the players are to blame but only a new coach can bring some degree of consistency.

Mark: Was Bruno Fernandes so disappointed that his red card against Spurs was rescinded he had to get another? As the captain, he’s supposed to set an example and be an inspiration, not a liability.

Andy: Dreadful United team full of overpriced and overrated players Ten Hag has bought.

Steven: Never mind a rescued point. How many goals' head start do they need? Simply can't defend and no excuse. It's a lucky draw from a commanding position. Dire.

Des: Hopefully defeat by Aston Villa will be the final straw for Ten Hag. Tactically clueless. Clearly is a poor motivator of players. Chronically poor performance yet again with only a great header by Maguire at the end making for a slightly less embarrassing humiliation than it would have been.

Richie: The final throw of the dice this weekend for Ten Hag.

Throughout Friday morning, our chief football news reporter and Manchester United expert Simon Stone is answering your questions.

Head over to our live news page to submit yours and see what he has to say.

Manchester United's 3-3 draw with Porto dominates the back pages of Friday's newspapers.

Defender Harry Maguire's late equaliser gets manager Erik ten Hag "out of jail" but the pressure continues to mount on the United boss.

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Thomas Tuchel and Massimiliano Allegri feature high on Manchester United's shortlist, as they consider sacking manager Erik ten Hag. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, United are preparing a bid of about £34m for 25-year-old Benfica and Turkey winger Kerem Akturkoglu. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Barcelona and Juventus are monitoring the situation of 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, with Manchester United believed to value the player at £50m. (Sun), external

Finally, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be in attendance for Manchester United's Premier League game at Aston Villa on Sunday, as speculation over manager Erik ten Hag's future increases. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Mark Ogden, Senior writer for ESPN, reacting to Manchester United's draw with Porto on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is hard to say he [Ten Hag] put on Harry Maguire to score a goal? It rolled for Erik ten Hag tonight - he got lucky.

"When we have a bit of reflection on this - it was basketball style.

"Did he take off Matthijs de Ligt and Leandro Martinez to save them for Aston Villa? They looked miles off it.

"If you want to have a positive spin on things then it shows Manchester United's players are fighting for the cause and are not giving up, but it depends how you want to look at it.

"Harry Maguire has been dropped from the England squad today and he has turned a bad day into a good one."

On Erik ten Hag's future: "I'll be surprised if he lost his job [after Aston Villa at the weekend], on the basis that the money is an issue.

"Manchester United are hoping he turns it round. He is obviously walking a tightrope."

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added: "The question marks will get bigger.

"The international break will buy him time, but there is no natural replacement."

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to TNT Sports: "We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two goals then we lost control.

"The start was good, the middle was not good, then we finished very good. It's a tough place to go, we're coming back from 3-2 and get the equaliser. The team has a strong character, but the middle part we have to improve.

"We need to be better on the ball, keep switching. We had good players, a good plan. We have to defend better. We had three clean sheets not a long time ago so we can defend very good, but we have to go back to those habits."

On Marcus Rashford coming off at half-time: "We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn't start him, but he had a great game not only Sunday but the whole season. We go quickly with a turnaround to [Aston] Villa and they have had a day longer to recover and we have an away game."

On his job being under pressure: "We will get there. Don't judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process, we will improve. We have had two seasons where we have reached finals, we will continue and fight.

"You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. The players are together, they have a strong spirit and they want to achieve. We have a good mentality but in some defending parts we have to step up."

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Manchester United goalscorer Harry Maguire, speaking to TNT Sports: "After every game we analyse and speak among ourselves.

"The manager spoke, some members of staff spoke and the players spoke. When you get 2-0 away from home you have to be a little bit more solid and there were far too many gaps. Too many crosses were coming into the box for sure and they ultimately punished us for it.

"When you go 2-0 up and then concede, does the belief go a bit with the boys that we can go on and win? It's something we need to focus on. It's happening far too many times.

"Every time you concede you have to reset and go back to the game plan which got us in the lead. It's something we need to improve. If we want to be successful this season we can't keep conceding two goals."

On manager Erik ten Hag being under pressure: "I've played for this club for six years, I know how it works. When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does. He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it.

"It's part of the privilege you have playing for this club."

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Since Erik ten Hag joined the club in 2022, no Premier League team has conceded three or more goals in a match more times in all competitions than Manchester United (24).

The Red Devils are also winless in their past five matches in European competitions (D3 L2) despite leading by two or more goals in three of them.

In fact, the side have now failed to win each of the past four occasions they have led by two goals in a European match (D3 L1).

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Harry Maguire rescued a dramatic draw for 10-man Manchester United after they had surrendered a two-goal lead - and had Bruno Fernandes sent off - at Porto in the Europa League.

Follow reaction and read the match report

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Some 180 Manchester United fans will miss Thursday's Europa League game at Porto after their flight was cancelled.

The supporters were making the journey to northern Portugal with United’s official travel partner, Sportsbreaks.

However, an initial delay in the morning because of a technical issue was compounded by poor weather in Porto when the flight was eventually ready to depart.

"Sportsbreaks are in the process of issuing full refunds to all supporters," said the company.

"All supporters who checked in for the flight will receive their credit."

United sources say the club share the regret at the problems which left those affected at Manchester airport all day.

There are three European fixtures on Thursday involving Premier League clubs:

• Ferencvaros v Tottenham (17:45) - Europa League

• Porto v Man Utd (20:00) - Europa League (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Chelsea v Gent (20:00) - Conference League

All kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction

Interim England boss Lee Carsley has announced his squad for this month's Nations League games with Greece and Finland.

Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke is the headline inclusion, returning to international contention for the first time in seven years.

The 27-year-old has three goals in six appearances for Spurs since moving from Bournemouth in the summer.

Read the full story

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I am not a hater of Erik ten Hag but there are issues at Manchester United.

I have not seen any players look like they have improved or see them understanding his system any better than the first day he walked through the door.

It means I have to question him because we are now a few years down the line.

If you are a manager that wins two cups, then you probably think that is enough to remain in your job - but for a club as big as Manchester United it is not.

He does not seem to be able to manage big personalities and that is a problem. We saw how the Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho situations played out. Then there is his relationship with Marcus Rashford. Sometimes he is in the team and in form - and then he gets dropped.

Ten Hag keeps openly talking about trying to change the culture at the club and have discipline, which is fine, but if you lose players because of it then it matters. I don't like the saying 'lost the dressing room' but he keeps talking about culture in interviews.

He has also said a lot about injuries, but he had a full-strength squad against Tottenham and it was their worst performance in a very long time. Spurs outplayed them across every area of the pitch.

He was a fantastic manager for Ajax, where he had them playing with an identity, and he was good at bringing players through. But this is a very disorganised United team.

For a manager who has been well organised in the past, United are too easy to open up and we saw that against Tottenham.

They have big games coming up against Porto and Aston Villa. You never want to talk about someone losing their job, but the games then lead into an international break, so is that then the time for change?

He seems to be quite confident that they will stick with him for the season but is that just him saying that?

If he does not get results from these next two games then I think he will be lucky to see the international break through.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

As Manchester United prepare to face FC Porto tonight in the Europa League, here is a look at their previous nine games in Europe.

It makes for sorry reading for United fans, with their only victory coming at home against Copenhagen in last year's Champions League group stage.

They started this season's Europa League campaign with a disappointing draw at home to Twente.

Full commentary of FC Porto v Manchester United on BBC Radio 5 Live from 20:00 BST

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and former Chelsea manager Graham Potter are two of the leading candidates to replace Erik ten Hag, if he leaves Manchester United. Meanwhile, former England manager Gareth Southgate and Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi are also in the frame. (Teamtalk), external

However, reports from Italy suggests that former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is favoured by Sir Alex Ferguson to become the next manager at Old Trafford. (Express), external

Meanwhile, United could opt to trigger a one-year extension on Harry Maguire's current deal, which expires at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, as they want to avoid the 31-year-old defender leaving for free. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Thursday's full gossip column