Analysing Manchester United's Europa League Campaign so Far
Manchester United's Europa League campaign finally emerged from the crushing grasp of mediocrity and an almost existential lack of interest as the Red Devils blasted four goals past Fenerbahce on Thursday night.
It was, all in all, a rather splendid occasion, featuring as it did a star turn from Paul Pogba, a fine goal from Jesse Lingard and the emotional return of Robin van Persie.
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And at the halfway point of the group stage, it means United have pretty much dug themselves out of the hole they had jumped into with their loss at Feyenoord in the first round of games. They sit in second place behind the Dutch side on head-to-head results but have the best goal difference in the group.
The Fener win paints the campaign so far in a much more flattering light than had been the case previously.
Those hardy souls who braved the trip to Rotterdam for the opening fixture in the face of warnings to avoid club colours for fear of hostile home fans, as reported by John Scheerhout of the Manchester Evening News, were entitled to be disappointed with what they saw.
A theoretically strong team on paper set out in a peculiar manner, defending incredibly deep. It is important to set the game in some context—it happened immediately after the Manchester derby, when United's attempts to play a deep line and press once the ball crossed the halfway line had been so undisciplined.
It almost felt as if manager Jose Mourinho was treating the Feyenoord game as a live classroom environment in which he could test his new charges on their understanding of the way he wanted them to play.
They failed the test that day, but fast-forward to the 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Monday night, and it is clear that improvements have been made in their ability to play that style of game.
Feyenoord were odd opponents to choose to practise this on given United could have afforded a more aggressive approach, but the relatively low stakes of a first group game in a competition no one seems to care about is not a bad time to experiment.
A word at this point, though, should be put in for the supporters who follow United away in Europe. The last time they saw their side win on their long, expensive and sometimes quite dangerous travels was on 26 August, 2015, against Club Brugge.
Since then, they have seen their side lose twice in the Netherlands, draw in Russia, lose in Germany, lose in Denmark to a team formed the season United won the treble and, of course, lose at Anfield.
Three of those games were in the Champions League, a competition in which apathy cannot be considered an excuse. But the next time United play away in Europe, they should think carefully about the fact their most hardcore supporters deserve better.
After Feyenoord came the drudgery of the Zorya Luhansk encounter. The solitary high point in that game was Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal, which is the only one he has scored in the past seven games. The official attendance was 58,179, per the club's website.
The top tier of the East Stand was closed to keep the ground from looking or feeling too empty. Even so, there was little enough in the way of atmosphere. The high-pitched chants of "United" from a large group of young fans was easily audible on television.
In spite of those ropey performances, Mourinho's selection policy is worthy of note. He has given some fringe players in his squad game time, but plenty of the big names have been involved. Pogba and Juan Mata have started every game; Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly have been at centre-back together at the start of each match.
David De Gea got the Zorya game off but played against Feyenoord and Fenerbahce. It has not exactly been a series of second-string selections.
Which brings us to Thursday night. This was the strongest side Mourinho had played in the competition so far—it may be harsh to suggest the absence of Marcos Rojo was proof of this, but it is probably just about fair.
Other than Wayne Rooney's presence at centre-forward, any other player on the pitch could have reasonably been considered a first-XI-worthy option.
The improved balance was evident from the early encounters. United dominated possession. At times, there was a Louis van Gaal-era quality to their passing—it became a little sterile in midfield. Their ball recovery when they lost possession, though, was superb.
The positional awareness and work ethic of their forwards and Pogba meant Fenerbahce hardly had a moment's peace on the ball. This was tigerish, aggressive pressing, the kind that asserted a complete dominance over the game.
It was the sign of something emerging in Mourinho's team, a growing confidence at home that was also on display against Leicester City and Stoke City in the Premier League. Indeed, United have scored four goals in two of their last four home games and could easily have done the same against Stoke but for some wayward finishing.
Eventually, two superb direct balls into the penalty area, one from Michael Carrick to Mata and the other from the Spaniard to Anthony Martial led to fouls in the box. The penalties were converted by Pogba—whose run-up sent fear into the hearts of United fans watching everywhere—and Martial. From then on, it became something of a party.
Fener were obviously a much bigger draw than Zorya. The official attendance was recorded at 71,000, per the club's official website—a Europa League group-stage record, per Rory Brigstock-Barron in the Mirror.
Pogba, Mata and Lingard in particular were keen to put on a show for the crowd.
As well as his spot-kick, Pogba also mustered a trademark blockbuster of a goal—his first such strike in United first-team colours. Rooney had pressed brilliantly to capitalise on a misplaced pass.
His cross was a little behind Lingard, but the United academy graduate pulled off one of the moments of the season. His touch to control the ball with his heel was sublime.
The England international gets a lot of praise for his defensive contribution, his movement and his work rate, but as his goals in the FA Cup final and Community Shield showed, he is sometimes capable of doing outstanding things on the football pitch.
He scored a fine goal against Fener, too, but it was the control he demonstrated for his layoff for Pogba's goal that was his best moment.
The game's most emotional moment, though, was a nostalgic one.
As soon as the group-stage draw was announced, the Van Persie reunion tour was immediately obvious given his history with United and Feyenoord.
His Old Trafford homecoming was heartwarming. His name was cheered when the lineups were read out. Whenever he took a corner, his song was sung. Nearby fans applauded as they do when United players take corners.
And then—partly because United were 4-0 up, having played some excellent football and with a general air of satisfaction pervading the evening—his consolation goal was rewarded with a groundwide standing ovation. The shot of Sir Alex Ferguson in the crowd applauding his former charge with a warm smile on his face will live long in the memory.
With Thursday night's performance, United got their Europa League campaign back on the rails. They cannot take the rest of the group stage lightly, particularly with two of their remaining three games coming away from home—their recent European away record makes that a worry. But they are well-placed to qualify.
And more than that, between Lingard's touch, Pogba's goal, Carrick and Mata's passes and the reception for Van Persie, Thursday night's game made the competition feel like less of a waste of time.
If it does nothing else, it has made some good memories. What more can we ask of football?
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