Man United: Fred had a “shocker” last night

Manchester United‘s latest successful run got here to an finish on Thursday as Erik ten Hag’s facet succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to La Liga outfit Actual Sociedad of their first Europa League encounter of the season.

The Crimson Devils have loved one thing of a revival in latest weeks after recording four straight Premier League victories after the debacle at Brentford, though they got here up quick in what was a moderately drab encounter at Outdated Trafford.

Amid the backdrop of the unhappy passing of Queen Elizabeth II previous to kick-off, it was an unsurprisingly muted environment contained in the Theatre of Goals on the evening, with gamers and supporters having noticed an impeccable minute’s silence in her reminiscence.

Because the motion ultimately did get underway, it was additionally a considerably muted efficiency from Ten Hag’s males, with the Dutchman’s raft of changes seemingly backfiring as the house facet supplied little attacking thrust.

Summer time signing Casemiro appeared understandably off the tempo on his first start for the membership, whereas final season’s talisman Cristiano Ronaldo continued his goalless begin to the brand new marketing campaign, with the Portuguese icon seemingly starting to indicate his age as he recorded the bottom Sofascore ranking of any United participant on Thursday.

Though the 37-year-old could sometimes dominate the headlines following that shock defeat – which noticed the guests profit from a hugely controversial penalty determination – there was arguably one other larger villain on the evening within the type of team-mate Fred.

Did Fred let Ten Hag down towards Sociedad?

Certainly one of many squad members thrust again into the beginning line-up after largely that includes off the bench within the early weeks of the season, the Brazilian produced an erratic show in United’s midfield, having been deployed in one thing of a playmaking role by his supervisor.

Whereas doubtlessly ill-suited to that quantity ten berth, the 29-year-old can not blame his new boss for his multitude of errant passes nor his lack of composure on the ball, as he notably misplaced possession 15 instances in his 90-minute outing.

Fairly why the previous Shakhtar Donetsk man was not withdrawn is one thing of a headscratcher, with the 27-cap midfielder at one stage nearly sparking an assault for the away facet after producing a blind backward cross from the centre of the pitch.

As Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst wrote after the match, the £18m-rated Brazilian seemed like a ‘fish out of water’ in a extra inventive position, with the hope being that Ten Hag could have learnt from that failed experiment.

Having endured a “shocker” towards the Basque outfit – within the phrases of ESPN journalist Rob Dawson – Fred can seemingly have few complaints if he finds himself again on the substitutes’ bench when United are subsequent in motion.