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<\/p>\nMan Utd saw a two-goal lead slip away in Galatasaray <\/p>\n
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From hell to purgatory. Manchester United are left in limbo about their European future this season, after a game at Galatasaray where both sides left everything on the pitch. Andre Onana, however, let two free-kicks in.<\/p>\n
There was still more to an utterly thrilling 3-3 draw than that, as United lost a lead for the fifth time in five Champions League group games. This was also the second by two goals.<\/p>\n
That should torment Erik ten Hag, even as it would have delighted anyone else watching on. This was so much more entertaining than the divinely perfect football we\u2019ve come to expect from the competition\u2019s best level and there is, of course, a lesson in that.<\/p>\n
This might have been the way to put on a show. It isn\u2019t the way to go about an away game in the Champions League.<\/p>\n
There should be an even greater aggravation to that for Ten Hag, though. So much of United\u2019s attacking play looked like what you would consider his ideal. It was a long-awaited reminder of last season\u2019s best form, particularly Scott McTominay\u2019s counter-attacking finish that should have won it.<\/p>\n
It was all there. There was connection combined with emphatic force, as was seen with Alejandro Garnacho\u2019s glorious strike for the first after that exquisite little through ball.<\/p>\n
There was pure individual inspiration, as seen with Bruno Fernandes\u2019 blockbuster. There was then incision at pace, as they cut through Galatasaray for McTominay to slide in.<\/p>\n
This is the way United should be playing.<\/p>\n
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United showed glimpses of what they could be <\/p>\n
The great question for Ten Hag, that is directly connected to the quandary of how they keep losing leads, is whether they can only play that way by going so open? It is some way removed from Pep Guardiola\u2019s suffocation through possession.<\/p>\n
It is even further away from so many of United\u2019s drab league games. There, there\u2019s been a more dour resilience, where performance has actually obscured relatively acceptable form.<\/p>\n
This still shouldn\u2019t be acceptable, though. United just shouldn\u2019t be in this position. That could have been said before this game, but this made it much worse.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s like there\u2019s no in-between. It\u2019s either \u201ccontrol\u201d to the point of boredom or abandon to the point of this chaos.<\/p>\n
Galatasaray of course contributed. They were often as good in attack, and just as porous at the back. The number of chances they were willing to just offer up late on. It\u2019s incredible they still came out with a draw.<\/p>\n
For that, they can look to United\u2019s goalkeeper. One Hakim Ziyech free-kick like that would have been bad enough. Two might well be a season destroyer. It will be all the worse given he had recovered. There hadn\u2019t really been a major error since the supposed turning point of the penalty save against Copenhagen.<\/p>\n
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Andre Onana suffered another forgettable evening <\/p>\n
It was just another twist in this group stage.<\/p>\n
The one excuse that might be made for Onana is that the conditions made it especially difficult, particularly in situations like those free-kicks. It was also like a player as clever as Ziyech knew that. He went for it.<\/p>\n
Again, there was more to it than that. Like Galatasaray at the other end, United gave up so many chances that any two or three of a number of efforts could have ended up as goals. Kerem Akturkoglu's brilliant sweeping strike was one. That could have happened many times over. The chaos reduced the match to an element of blind luck \u2013 especially late on. That last proper move United had, where the ball ricocheted around Fernando Muslera\u2019s goal, summed it up.<\/p>\n
It could have gone anywhere. As it is, United are going out. It should never have come to that. There are questions for Ten Hag there, beyond his choice of goalkeeper.<\/p>\n
How are they this erratic after a year and a half? How is it they have found a relatively forgiving group so punishing? How can translate some of this attacking to the league, without bringing that mayhem at the back?<\/p>\n
This is what United need to look to, other than a miracle.<\/p>\n
Hell, as Galatasaray still attempted to style their new Rams Park, wasn\u2019t the place for that.<\/p>\n