Manchester United’s Game Management Costs Them In The Champions League

A game of the ages for the neutrals, but less so for Manchester United fans. Where they needed to see their team triumph, the Red Devils were pegged back to come away from Istanbul with a sorry draw.

With the way Group A was looking before the game kicked off in Turkey, it was clear that Manchester United, to have a hold over their own destiny, needed to return to England with all three points.

The Red Devils could not have asked for a better start, quickly opening the scoring through Alejandro Garnacho, which was soon followed up by a wonder-strike from captain Bruno Fernandes.

A cynical foul by Fernandes, in which he did need to make, gave Hakim Ziyech the opportunity from a free-kick just outside the box, but it was Andre Onana’s first mistake of the evening that allowed Galatasaray, and their fans, a route back into the game.

For the rest of the first half, Manchester United remained resolute and compact, keeping the ball well and creating chances of their own. Rasmus Hojlund, United’s number centre forward, was doing an excellent job of pulling defenders out of position and creating spaces for those behind him.

Erik Ten Hag’s players came out firing once again in the second half and, in similar fashion to the first, found a third goal through Scott McTominay’s cute finish past Fernando Muslera.

With a two-goal cushion, leading 1-3 on the night where they had to win, Manchester United should be expected to hold out to a victory. There is no doubt that the atmosphere was hostile and pressure was building, but if they had remained compact and organised in defence, it would have been a very manageable end to the game.

Instead, Manchester United remained frantic and rushed in midfield and defence – leaving spaces all over the pitch for Galatasaray’s players to run into and past. After every attack from the English club, the Istanbul giants would return the favour with a lightning quick counter-attack that they could not cut off.

With another mistake from Onana, who parried another Ziyech free-kick into the back of his own net, Galatasaray grew in confidence and as did the crowd. Within 10 minutes, they had found another route to goal and buried it past the flailing Cameroon international.

In truth, this match resembled more of a basketball game than it did a football one. A considerable lack of game management tactics from Manchester United were on show, who continued to look open and transparent at the back, while threatening going forward.

In the last 15 minutes, the Red Devils should have found the back of the net on a number of occasions. It was remarkable that they could not find a way past Muslera and squandered the moment time and time again.

The game finished 3-3, a fair point all things considered on both sides, but one Manchester United should not be happy with. Like with the games against Copenhagen and Galatasaray in the reverse fixture, the matches were there for them to win.

But, as always this season, game management evades them and a brawl ensues. And on yet another occasion, they lose out and come away broken hearted.