FC Midtjylland vs. Manchester United: Winners and Losers from Europa League
Louis van Gaal suffered another setback when Manchester United lost 2-1 at Danish side Midtjylland on Thursday night in the first leg of the two clubs' UEFA Europa League round-of-32 tie.
The Dutch manager has been under pressure lately following a run of uninspiring performances from his side, but this loss might rank among the most embarrassing of the season. Midtjylland had not played a competitive match for several weeks, but the hosts overturned a first-half deficit to claim a vital first-leg win on home soil.
Memphis Depay scored the lone goal for United, while Pione Sisto and Paul Onuachu found the back of the net for Midtjylland.
The second leg is scheduled for next Thursday at Old Trafford.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Sergio Romero
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Sergio Romero was a late insertion into Manchester United's starting lineup following an injury to David De Gea. Despite the lack of preparation (and conceding two goals), the Argentine did very well in a pinch.
In the 11th minute, Midtjylland's Kian Hansen met a corner with a powerful, downward header. The ball looked destined for the back of the net, but Romero moved to his left and stuck out a strong hand to knock it away.
He made another good save nine minutes before the break, denying Vaclav Kadlec one-on-one following a quick counter by the hosts.
The best was yet to come, however. In the 62nd minute, Romero sprawled to his left to keep out a powerful header by Paul Onuachu. The big forward would later score the winner, but Romero kept him out this time by setting his feet early, flinging his body at the ball and showing strong wrists to push the ball away.
As for the goals, neither was Romero's fault. United's defending was poor on both, and the first even took a deflection on its way into the net. Under difficult circumstances, the Argentine performed as well as could be expected and actually kept the scoreline closer than it could have been.
Loser: Louis van Gaal
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It's just the Europa League, but this is an embarrassing loss nonetheless. Due to their domestic schedule, Midtjylland hadn't played a competitive match in two months. And before that, the Danes had won just once in their last 10 games.
This was Midtjylland. It wasn't a Premier League title challenger or a top-class Champions League stalwart. Even if this game was not a priority for Louis van Gaal, Manchester United should be doing better.
True, United have loads of injuries at present, but the players on the pitch Thursday night showed little in the way of character. Nobody stood up to take control, even after United took the lead, and Midtjylland's comeback had an inevitable feel to it, especially as the second half progressed.
By full-time, the visitors looked like the team that hadn't played in several weeks, and defeat was fully deserved.
"This Man United team is an absolute shambles. Sure, 14 players [were] out with injury. But they still started this game with eight internationals," tweeted B/R contributor Graham Ruthven.
For some time now, an increasingly vocal number of fans have been calling for the appointment of Jose Mourinho. This defeat won't quiet them at all.
Surely, David Moyes was no worse than this.
Winner: Paul Onuachu
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Paul Onuachu entered the match as a 60th-minute substitute for Midtjylland and quickly made an impact.
Within two minutes he came close to scoring with a powerful header. Sergio Romero denied him on that occasion, but the big striker found the winner 16 minutes later.
Holding possession outside the box, Onuachu lost possession briefly, regained it and fired a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Admittedly, it was poor defending on United's part, but the visitors were completely unable to deal with Onuachu's size and physicality throughout his time on the pitch.
Loser: Michael Carrick
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Any number of Manchester United players could be losers here, especially if they were involved in defending in any way. But we'll single out Michael Carrick.
Harsh? Maybe, but Carrick was guilty of the giveaway that gifted Midtjylland the equalizer in the 44th minute. The midfielder's slack pass gave Pione Sisto an opening, and Sisto took full advantage with a great run and deflected finish to level up the match.
United had just scored seven minutes earlier and were showing signs of controlling the game. But the goal gave Midtjylland a way back into the match, and United never really got back on top in the second half.
Winner: Memphis Depay
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Memphis Depay made his first start since Boxing Day and repaid his manager's faith with a goal in the first half.
It might be incorrect to say "faith," considering Louis van Gaal brought Depay into the starting lineup only after Wayne Rooney's injury. But scoring this goal will (at least) give the young Dutch attacker a new confidence after spending so much of the season out of favor.
Depay nearly assisted a goal as well, but Juan Mata headed his curling cross off target in the 53rd minute.
