Feyenoord vs. Manchester United: Score, Reaction from 2016 Europa League Match

Manchester United got their UEFA Europa League campaign off to a poor start on Thursday, as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Feyenoord at De Kuip Stadium. 

Tonny Vilhena netted the decisive goal in a lacklustre game from both sides where clear-cut chances were few and far between. 

A scrappy, lethargic first half produced little excitement for either side, with United in particular slow in getting out of the blocks.

The first chance of note fell to the hosts when Steven Berghuis cut inside from the right and unleashed a low, left-footed effort on goal, but David De Gea got down well to deny the winger. Feyenoord's Terence Kongolo also fashioned a chance for Jens Toornstra, but he could only balloon his effort over the bar.

Aside from a Paul Pogba free-kick that was easily dealt with by Brad Jones, the Red Devils' first real opportunity came midway through the half when Anthony Martial flashed a shot wide of the post after being picked out well by Matteo Darmian.

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

The Telegraph's James Ducker reflected on their start:

Once again, Pogba struggled to impose himself on the match, as noted by Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News:

A half-chance for Juan Mata—the Spaniard almost got on the end of a Marcus Rashford header—was all United mustered for the remainder of the half, as they struggled to get the isolated Rashford into the game.

Football writer Liam Canning was unimpressed, while Squawka Football supplied further evidence of their struggles:

The visitors enjoyed some early possession after the break but did little with it, as they lacked dynamism and imagination. Similarly, Feyenoord failed to threaten either.

United manager Jose Mourinho made a triple-substitution, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Memphis Depay and Ashley Young replacing Rashford, Mata and Martial.

The move did little to inspire his side, though, and after Bilal Basacikoglu had an effort saved, Feyenoord took the lead in the 79th minute.

Nicolai Jorgensen broke down the right and found Vilhena with a neat pull-back. The Dutchman made no mistake in slotting home from 15 yards, though replays showed Jorgensen to have been just offside.

The Daily Mirror's John Cross was reminded of United's showings last season:

Ibrahimovic tested Jones with a vicious, low free-kick in injury time as United sought an equaliser, but they otherwise failed to seriously threaten Feyenoord's goal in the closing stages.

While the Europa League is far from a priority for United, it's a competition they have an excellent chance of winning if they take it seriously.

Losing to Feyenoord is an early blow, but it will equally be among their most difficult away games—with it out of the way, they can concentrate on their matches at Old Trafford and a tricky visit to Fenerbahce.

Of more concern will be the performance, which left much to be desired.

Post-Match Reaction

Per BT Sport (h/t the Guardian's Simon Burnton), Mourinho believed the result was harsh on his side:

"

Of course I’m unhappy, especially because I think we lose the game precisely in the moment we don’t deserve to lose. In the second half we were always in control. We were trying to win, they were trying not to lose, and precisely in the moment we were feeling they were collapsing, it’s exactly in that moment that we lose the game. And double unlucky because he was offside.

"

Further, the Special One would not comment on any individual performances: "I don’t want to personalise. Some of the players were playing their first minutes of the season. Obviously some played better than others, but I cannot judge them just for a game."