Manchester United's Mentality Questioned After Twente Draw

Manchester United's recent performance against FC Twente has raised concerns regarding the team's mentality and overall improvement under manager Erik ten Hag. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw in their Europa League opener, Ten Hag echoed the sentiments of midfielder Christian Eriksen, who noted that Twente appeared to "want it more." This sentiment, coupled with a chorus of boos from the home crowd at Old Trafford, suggests a growing dissatisfaction among fans despite the team's prior optimism after a strong summer.

The match against Twente marked another setback for United, who have struggled to secure decisive victories this season. With only three wins from eight games, including a penalty shootout loss to Manchester City, the club's current form is concerning. The lack of offensive firepower is evident, as no United player has scored more than one goal in the Premier League, and the team has consistently underperformed in terms of expected goals (xG). Despite creating opportunities, their conversion rate stands at a mere seven percent, prompting questions about their attacking capabilities.

While Ten Hag has pointed to defensive improvements—indicating that the goals-per-game conceded rate is better than in previous seasons—the pressing issue remains the team's mentality and ability to close out games. The upcoming fixtures, including a challenging home match against Tottenham and an away game against Porto, will be crucial for United to regain momentum. Ten Hag acknowledged the need for his players to rise to the occasion and emphasized that complacency cannot be tolerated. With the pressure mounting, Manchester United must find solutions quickly to avoid further stagnation in their progress.