Manchester United

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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag: "Two tough away games. Of course when you are taking the lead, it [drawing] shouldn’t happen.

"We had chances to make a second goal, disappointed not to win. At Old Trafford we have to win games."

On if it was Manuel Ugarte's best performance for United so far: "Yes, I think so. He has to come into the team. The six role is very important. He has to learn how we play. I was happy with his performance today.

On why there was no Amad Diallo from the start: "Away from Europe to start with four attackers is too much. I made him [Mazraoui] a full-back. He was always a number 10. I knew he could fill in with that role, he had a big role in the goal. You can always move him back. Antony is training very good. Amad had some good actions."

On the result: "Fenerbahce are a very good club, with very good fans and some good players. It would be a very good final.

"We should keep the ball better in the first half. We should score more goals but to be honest they also created good chances. They gave us some problems. They are a good team with a good manager. It is not a bad point. But we want to win, we want to win every game."

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Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, speaking to TNT Sports: “It is a big disappointment for me and the fans, for the club, as a Manchester United player you have an obligation to try to win.

"It is what we tried to do today, but we also have to recognise it is a tough place to win.

"We didn’t win, but at least we didn’t lose, Not happy of course, but we move on, take responsibility and go again.

“We had more control than them in the second half and more chances. We conceded an early goal in the second half, we had to show character and I think that is what we did. We didn’t win but I thought we were better than them."

On his superb double save: “The saves are not important, the most important thing is the victory for the team.

"It is nice if I make those kinds of saves and the team wins, [but] it is a big disappointment [to draw]."

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Manchester United have won just one of their past 11 matches in major European competition (D5 L5).

They are now winless in six European matches (D4 L2), their joint longest ever such run (also a run of six without a win between 1980-1983).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on United’s performance, external

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

There are 16 matches in the Europa League on Thursday, with Manchester United and Tottenham both in action.

• Eintracht Frankfurt v RFS (17:45)

• Roma v Dynamo Kyiv (17:45)

• Midtjylland v Union Saint-Gilloise (17:45)

• Qarabag v Ajax (17:45)

• Maccabi Tel Aviv v Real Sociedad (17:45)

• PAOK v Viktoria Plzen (17:45)

• Ferencvaros v Nice (17:45)

• Fenerbahce v Man Utd - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v AZ Alkmaar

• Lyon v Besiktas

• Anderlecht v Ludogorets

• Athletic Bilbao v Slavia Prague

• Malmo v Olympiakos

• Porto v Hoffenheim

• Twente v Lazio

• Rangers v FCSB

All kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction, including from the Conference League games, here

Whether Manchester United are back on track after their comeback Premier League win over Brentford is yet to be seen, but the three points seem to have eased the pressure on Erik ten Hag and his team.

But have United fans' expectations of the standards they expect from their side been lowered because of the difficult start to the season?

That is what The Devils' Advocate team have been asking in this week's podcast.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Christian Eriksen feels he has seen improvement in Manchester United since their Europa League draw with FC Twente and comments he made after the match were "in the heat of the moment".

The midfielder said it "looked like they wanted it more" after the Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw with the Dutch side in their opening game of the competition.

The match came in a difficult spell for the team which saw the pressure increase on manager Erik ten Hag.

United's comeback win against Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday has eased the pressure and the side will be hoping to take that confidence into Thursday's match with Fenerbahce as they look for their first Europa League victory of the season.

Asked about his previous comments in the pre-match news conference, Eriksen said: "Yes, I think we have [seen improvement].

"When you draw or lose, the confidence is down a bit. When I spoke it was in the heat of the moment. It felt like a loss but since then our group is getting together and we have played some good games since.

"Winning games is the aim and that is what we are going for."

The Denmark international is currently in the final year of his contract at United and could leave as a free agent in the summer.

He struggled for playing time last season but he has managed to regain his place and would be open to signing a new deal if one was offered.

"It’s not really up to me when my contract runs out, it’s up to the club," he said.

"I have really enjoyed my time at the club and still do. When the summer comes, if the offer is there, I will definitely take it seriously."

Manchester United winger Antony could be offered a route out of Old Trafford by his former club Ajax, but the Dutch giants are said to have some reservations about a deal. (De Telegraaf, via Mirror), external

Former Barcelona boss Xavi wants to take the Catalan club's 27-year-old winger Raphinha to Old Trafford, if he replaces Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

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

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game at Fenerbahce (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Mason Mount's recovery from injury is taking "a little bit longer than expected" but Ten Hag is expecting the midfielder back "soon".

• On facing an intense atmosphere in the stadium: "We have enough players in the team. They are so experienced in facing these situations more often. We are looking forward to it. It will be a great ambience and fuel for the team; a challenge and motivation that will be good for us."

• Ten Hag said winning the Europa League is a "target what we want to achieve and we have a big opportunity this season". He added that he and his players "know what we have to do and we have to win games."

• On Jose Mourinho's comments when leaving United about the club not being seen as elite in Europe: "This season, we just started - we have two draws. First season, we won a lot of European games. Last season was, domestically and in Europe, a more difficult journey. But we are confident we are capable of doing this - winning games in the Premier League and in Europe."

• On facing the former United boss: "Mourinho and I, we won a lot of trophies. But you have to prove yourself every year and if we don't we are always under criticism. Professional football is about winning games and when you don’t then you know criticism is coming. In the end, we know that it is about how you are at the end of the year. Mourinho is so experienced - he will lead [his team] to best form and be successful."

• Ten Hag said Fenerbahce are a "very good team" that United will not "underestimate or overestimate", adding: "We will play our own game. We are looking forward and always look forward against good teams because we are professional footballers and enjoy these challenges."

• On how they attack this competition while missing players: "It is complicated. It is never easy, but we will deal with it. We have to play many games in a short time and will do the best possible. As long as you have players available enough, then you can construct a team without injury risk and you can play games. At the moment it is OK, but hopefully we don't have many more injuries because then we will be short."

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Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says the "conditions" for Erik ten Hag are "different" to what he had when he was at the club.

Mourinho was asked about his old club before his current team Fenerbahce's Europa League encounter with United in Istanbul on Thursday.

In praising United for keeping faith Ten Hag during the present difficult spell, Mourinho managed to refer back to his own dismissal in December 2018 after two and a half seasons in charge.

"I wish the best to Manchester United since the moment I left," he said.

"I left with a good feeling to the club and with a good feeling to the fans. If things are not going amazingly well for them it's not something that makes me happy.

"It doesn't make sense for me to be thinking about what happened and what didn't happen. What happened for sure, because it's very objective, is they keep faith in the coach.

"They support the coach and the coach is staying season after season. That means stability and it means trust. They are giving him conditions to keep developing his job. That was different in relation to me."

Mourinho said he was unaware he has never previously lost a home game against United.

He pointed out his previous encounters with them were with 'big clubs' and said Fenerbahce would require the help of 35,000 home supporters in the stadium to stand any chance of victory.

"We are going to try and we can do it, but there is a gap," he added.

Former Barcelona boss Xavi has held talks with Manchester United about the possibility of replacing Erik ten Hag as manager. (Mail), external

Meanwhile, United, Liverpool and Real Madrid are tracking RB Leipzig and France defender Castello Lukeba, 21. (RMC Sport - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Alex Turk
Fan writer

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Erik ten Hag has found a winning formula that he must persist with to overturn Manchester United's fortunes on the pitch.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

"Alex, United have beaten 13th-place Brentford 2-1 at home. Relax, chump."

That's true. But hear me out.

Plenty of intrigue has swarmed Ruud van Nistelrooy's Old Trafford return. Can one of United's greatest forwards sprinkle some of his goal dust (see what I did there?) on Ten Hag's misfiring attack?

From what I and 73,737 others witnessed on the pitch on Saturday, he may already be making the desired impact.

The scoreline does not tell the whole story. United were dominant as they faced more adversity square in the face. Ten Hag orchestrated a genuinely encouraging performance all around. He needed that.

As for that winning formula. I'll get to the point. Marcus Rashford was a joy to watch on the right flank - defensively and offensively.

He showcased his range of passing - a criminally underrated trait - to connect with Alejandro Garnacho on the opposite flank and cause havoc for Brentford's vulnerable back line.

And Garnacho, what a menace. The zestful Argentina winger just doesn't stop. Shot after shot after shot. He will consistently score and assist goals simply due to how often he gets himself in the positions to do so.

Then there's Rasmus Hojlund as United's number nine finds his stride. If Van Nistelrooy exudes his influence onto anyone on the pitches of Carrington, it will be him.

You would be forgiven if you thought for a split second that the Dutch icon had found a spare strip in the dugout and produced that delightful winner.

Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee are exciting squad options, but Ten Hag has found his first-choice front three. He must allow them to continue growing together.

Find more from Alex Turk at Stretford Paddock, external

Bayern Munich and Marseille have joined Paris St-Germain in the race to sign 26-year-old England forward Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are prepared to entertain loan offers in January for Brazil winger Antony, 24. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, could leave on loan in January, with Juventus interested in the Dutchman. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

The Red Devils and Chelsea are interested in Barcelona's 25-year-old Uruguay defender Ronald Araujo. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Football is full of highs.

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And lows.

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Controversy takes hold.

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Moments of madness do too.

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Players become unexpected heroes.

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Some never change.

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There's pain.

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Joy too.

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And, given this ebb and flow of emotion, every so often, even the coolest heads boil over.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United have posted pictures of defender Leny Yoro ‘on the grass’ as he continues his recovery from a broken foot.

United paid Lille £52m for Yoro in July but the 18-year-old was injured almost immediately in a pre-season game against Arsenal in Los Angeles.

The Old Trafford club said at the time Yoro would be out for around three months.

United said Monday was Yoro’s ‘first day back out on the grass’.

However, they also say the centre-half has ‘plenty of work to do’ before he is ready for a return to action.

After Manchester United won in the Premier League against Brentford on Saturday, BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast reflects on whether the victory has eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.

The team are also joined by United YouTuber, Nick McCabe, to preview their Europa League trip to against Fenerbahce and a reunion with Jose Mourinho on Thursday.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds