Manchester United secured a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzeň in their latest UEFA Europa League match, thanks to a late brace from Rasmus Højlund. However, despite the victory, the game highlighted several concerns for the team, particularly under new head coach Ruben Amorim. United’s performance for much of the match was lackluster, and their victory only came after a dramatic late surge by Højlund. His second goal, an 88th-minute winner, ensured United’s first away win in Europe since March 2023.
The game began poorly for United, with the team struggling to maintain possession and exhibiting sloppy play. Højlund’s arrival in the second half sparked a change, and he equalized just six minutes after coming on. However, United’s early struggles were compounded by individual mistakes, particularly from goalkeeper André Onana, whose error allowed Viktoria Plzeň to take the lead. Onana’s blunder followed a similar mistake in United’s previous match against Nottingham Forest, adding to concerns about his form.
Amorim, who has now been with the team for a month, expressed frustration with the lack of pace and control in the first half. He acknowledged that his team still needs time to work on their routines, with issues like ball retention still plaguing their play. United’s poor first-half performance, characterized by frequent giveaways and missed opportunities, was a significant worry for the manager.
Rasmus Højlund, however, emerged as a positive for United. The 21-year-old’s two goals brought his Europa League tally to five in six matches, making him the competition’s top scorer at the moment. Despite his crucial performance, Højlund was involved in a heated disagreement with teammate Amad Diallo after the final whistle, upset over not receiving a pass during a late break.
Amorim emphasized the importance of resilience, noting that despite the mistakes, his team showed character in not giving up. As United heads into a tough fixture against Manchester City, Amorim will hope for more consistent performances from his squad.
