The Champions League returned to Old Trafford tonight, but despite taking the lead twice, Man United fell to yet another defeat.
Galatasaray silenced the home crowd after coming from behind on two occasions to leave Manchester United at the bottom of Group A on zero points.
It's now six defeats in 10 games for Erik Ten Hag's side this campaign and the question marks around the squad and club remain.
The hosts got off to a bright start when Marcus Rashford found Rasmus Hojlund with an excellent cross.
What a cross... and what a finish 💥
Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund combine to give Manchester United the lead at Old Trafford 🤝#UCL pic.twitter.com/SyKLLAp9Lw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2023
Former Man United and Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha equalised shortly after for the visitors to send the sides into the break with a goal a piece.
Well... that lead didn't last long for Manchester United 😬
Wilfried Zaha levels the score against his former club on his return to England 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/vZWZpLZUft
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2023
Rasmus Hojlund was one of the real bright sparks for United on a disappointing night, and it was this wonderful solo effort that got Man United dreaming of a winning return to the biggest competition in the world.
"Maybe there's a new Scandinavian in Manchester who's going to make headlines!" 📰👀
Ramsus Hojlund gets his second goal of the night - and puts Manchester United back in front 🙌#UCL pic.twitter.com/4D9v6c6TXl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 3, 2023
Yet again, Man United's lead was short lived and the Turkish champions equalised again just minutes later, but sadly for the Red Devils, things got worse.
This calamitous mistake from Andre Onana led to a Galatasaray penalty and a Casemiro red card in the final quarter of an hour.
Mauro Icardi fails to punish Manchester United from the penalty spot after Casemiro is penalised for bringing down Dries Mertens after Andre Onana's blunder.
📺Watch: https://t.co/wQsvKI41BU
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/8nBiITiQlO #MUNGAL pic.twitter.com/vBMVglq3rL— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 3, 2023
Mauro Icardi missed the spot kick, but certainly redeemed himself with this composed dink over Onana to give his side the lead for the first time.
Mauro Icardi redeems himself almost immediately as Galatasaray go ahead 3-2.
📺Watch: https://t.co/wQsvKI41BU
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/8nBiITiQlO #MUNGAL pic.twitter.com/YNBnZ1wH2X— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 3, 2023
Ferdinand and Scholes in disbelief over Man United defeat
While Man United fans are aware that they're a far cry from the team they were when both Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes were operating in red shirts, the pair couldn't hide their anger with the side after the game.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Paul Scholes said:
It's almost as if we disregarded the defensive side of the game and conceding goals, but tonight, I think Rio said, we've conceded 18 goals in 10 games. It's just not good enough and defensively we're all over the place. We were wide open again. The goalkeeper makes a mistake again. He doesn't get punished for that, but afterwards, we do get punished.
It was so wide open. Lindelof and Varane were so soft and weak and we all know what the goalkeeper did as well.
Losing you first home game in the Champions League, especially after losing the first away game. Terrible result.
Ferdinand shared his former Man United teammate's opinion.
I've been on a roller coaster of emotions tonight. One minute we look like a team who's showing potential, something to be positive about. But all of a sudden, I'm sitting there with my head in my hands thinking 'Wow'. It's an absolute lack of organisation at times, you got experienced players through the middle of the team and there's no organisation defensively.
We have been cut open like a hot knife through butter at times and it's embarrassing. This is the Champions League, this isn't like it's school football, it's the Champions League.
I'm all over the place. I'm gutted really.
Despite some pressure building on Erik Ten Hag, Scholes doesn't feel like his job at Man United is under threat and singled out one player as someone who could be nearing the end.
He's had a really good first year. He signed a couple of players who weren't right. Had a little bit of bad luck injury wise.
Going back to the defensive thing. I worry about Varane a bit. I think he has been one of the very best defenders around, just like Rio was, in the same ilk at Real Madrid. I just think his legs are looking a little bit sluggish, he can't keep fit. I'd be worried about him.
With no points from their opening two games in the Champions League and Premier League performances looking bleak, pressure on Man United remains.
