Mourinho was the only thing to see in the Jose Mourinho Derby. Manchester United lost their pride with three consecutive draws.
Manchester United drew 1-1 against Fenerbahce in the third round of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) phase of 2024-2025 season at 4 a.m. on the 25th (Korea time) at the Uel Fenerbahce Sukru Sarajoglu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkiye. Manchester United, which has drawn three games in a row, are ranked 21st with three points. Fenerbahce was ranked 14th.
It was the Mourinho Derby. Mourinho has won the UEL and Carabao Cup while leading Manchester United from the 2016-2017 season to the 2018-2019 season. It was one of Manchester United's best times since Alex Ferguson retired.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Haach started Joshua Girkzi, Alejandro Garnacho, Nusair Mazraoui, Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen, Manuel Ugarte, Lisandro Martinez, Viktor Lindelof, Matthias de Licht, Diogo Dalot and Andre Onana. There was a bold choice to use full-back Mazrawi as an attacking midfielder.
In response, Mourinho's Fenerbahce was started by all major players such as Alang Saint-Maximin, Youssef Enneciri and Doosan Tadic.
Fenerbahce showed good performance against Manchester United from the beginning of the game. Tadic delivered a sharp cross in the 9th minute of the first half, but none of Fenerbahce finished.
When Fenerbahce failed to take advantage of the opportunity, Manchester United ran away first. Garnacho advanced the ball in the counterattack in the 15th minute of the first half. Zirkji received it and gave it to Eriksen, and Eriksen scored the first goal with a strong shot.
Manchester United brought the mood. In the 22nd minute of the first half, Eriksen led the attack again this time. Rashford received the ball and tried to shoot after a bold breakthrough, but it missed slightly to the side of the net.
Fenerbahce also fought back. Fenerbahce's attack was connected to the net in the 23rd minute of the first half. Cross passed onana and headed for Tadic, but Ugarte saved Manchester United with a tackle.
Fenerbahce threatened Manchester United one after another. Sebastian Szimanski's cross was accurately delivered to Ennesyri in the 37th minute of the first half. Onana made a fantastic save. Tadic saved it and sent it back to Enneciri, and the second shot came out, but Onana blocked it again. The first half ended with Manchester United leading.
Fenerbahce succeeded in balancing the game early in the second half. In the fourth minute of the second half, Saint-Maximin's cross went straight to Enneciri, and Onana failed to block it this time.
Fenerbahce began to rush. Bright Osai-Samuel attempted to break through in the 12th minute of the second half. Ugarte fell in the penalty box when defending. The referee did not declare a penalty. Mourinho was sent off after protesting strongly on the bench.
United missed a crucial opportunity. In the 15th minute of the second half, Dalot succeeded in entering the penalty box. Rashford slipped and tried to shoot but missed. In the 13th minute of the second half, Mazraoui shot in front of the penalty box, but was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Manchester United's frustrating offensive continued. Rasmus Hoyleun, who came in as a substitute in the 31st minute of the second half, tried to play individually, but his shot was weak. Antony came in as a substitute instead of Rashford in the 27th minute of the second half, but he was seriously injured and replaced by Ahmad Diallo. In the end, the two teams couldn't decide the outcome.
rlaeotlr2024@sportschosun.com
