There are “some flickers of hope” for Manchester United, but they do not have a “guarantee of goals” in the team says reporter Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic.
Having taken the lead, United’s first Europa League game of the season ultimately ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw with FC Twente.
It was another match in which Erik ten Hag’s side had struggled to convert their chances and failed to hold a lead.
“FC Twente are the lowest ranked team, in terms of the coefficient, that they will face at Old Trafford in the Europa League so it is another result that continues this awkward start of the season for Manchester United,” Whitwell told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“There are signs of hope, they are creating good chances.
“They’ve got a good collection of young players but they just don’t have that guarantee of goals in the team, so you’re kind of hoping, rather than expecting them to produce these moments and go on a winning run.
“There are some flickers of hope but again, if it continues for too long, then the pressure will become too much I think.”
Boss Ten Hag has talked about players playing “too much” as a factor in his side’s inconsistency.
Whitwell added: “The Eredivisie has fewer teams in it and the pace of that league is less than the Premier League. Everyone comments on how intense the Premier League is when they join it, so you can’t let any game slip and every opposition is up for it.
“But United have a big squad and have spent a lot money to give it that strength in depth so that argument only has so much weight.
“There is certainly a breaking point for the amount of games players are going to be asked to play because there are so many competitions. But United, a team of that scale and quality should be beating FC Twente.”
