Rasmus Højlund Shines as Manchester United Struggles Continue
PLZEŇ, Czechia — On a cold night at Doosan Arena, Manchester United fans were once again reminded of the rollercoaster ride their team has become. Facing Viktoria Plzen in a UEFA Europa League clash, United managed to scrape out a 2-1 victory, but the performance left more questions than answers. For much of the game, it was easy to see why the club is reportedly open to offers for most of its players. Yet, amidst the chaos, one bright spark emerged: Rasmus Højlund.
The Denmark striker came off the bench midway through the second half and turned what could have been an embarrassing night into a narrow win. Højlund scored twice, including an 88th-minute winner, to lift United into the top eight of the Europa League table. While the result was a relief for new head coach Ruben Amorim, the performance was anything but reassuring ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Manchester City.
Onana’s Woes Continue
One of the biggest concerns for Amorim has to be the form of goalkeeper André Onana. Just days after his errors contributed to Nottingham Forest’s 3-2 win at Old Trafford, Onana was at it again. His mistake gifted Viktoria Plzen the opening goal, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning his reliability.
In the 66th minute, Lisandro Martínez played a seemingly harmless pass back to Onana. Instead of clearing the ball or finding a safe option, the Cameroon international passed to Matthijs de Ligt, who was under pressure. Viktoria Plzen’s Pavel Sulc pounced, setting up Matej Vydra for an easy finish. Onana’s visible relief when Højlund scored the late winner spoke volumes, as he sprinted the length of the pitch to join the celebrations.
Amorim’s Frustration Grows
After the match, Amorim didn’t hold back in his assessment. “It was not a great game, but we managed to do these good things, and I think we deserved the win,” he said. “You want to see better things, but then you remember that we didn’t have so much time to work. I think clearly we had a lack of pace during the first half. I’m always frustrated. I think I’m going to be like that for a while.”
Amorim’s frustration is understandable. The first half was one of the worst under his tenure so far. United struggled to string passes together, with the bobbly pitch offering little excuse for the sloppiness. The manager’s earlier comments about his team giving the ball away too much remain painfully accurate.
Individual Errors Pile Up
Joshua Zirkzee, starting as the central point in United’s three-man attack, epitomized the team’s struggles. The Netherlands international lost possession 11 times in the first 30 minutes alone. By halftime, that number had climbed to 16, and by the time he was substituted in the 61st minute, it had reached a staggering 19.
Marcus Rashford didn’t fare much better. Already on a yellow card, the England international made a reckless challenge on Sampson Dweh early in the second half. While the contact was minimal, it was enough to prompt Viktoria Plzen’s coaching staff to demand a red card. Amorim acted quickly, substituting Rashford to avoid further damage. It was a déjà vu moment for the manager, who had done the same in his first game at Ipswich Town to prevent Rashford from being sent off.
Højlund to the Rescue
Despite the team’s overall struggles, Højlund’s performance was a rare highlight. The 21-year-old equalized just six minutes after coming on, finishing off a good run from Amad. His second goal, a composed finish after a clever free kick from Bruno Fernandes, showcased his quality and composure under pressure.
Højlund’s brace brings his tally to five goals in six Europa League games, making him the competition’s top scorer heading into the final two rounds of fixtures. His hunger for goals was evident even after the final whistle, as he engaged in a heated exchange with Amad for not passing him the ball during a late counterattack.
Positives Amid the Chaos
While the performance left much to be desired, Amorim can take some positives into the weekend’s Manchester derby. The fight shown by United to come back from a goal down and Højlund’s clinical finishing are signs of potential. “The way we give a goal to the opponent, it was important not to give up,” Amorim said. “That’s a great message. We need to feel something. In this moment, we need to feel something, and if we need to fight each other, for me, it’s a very, very good sign. We want to improve, and we want to improve really fast.”
As United prepare to face their city rivals, fans will be hoping that Højlund’s heroics can inspire a turnaround. For now, though, the team remains a work in progress, with plenty of room for improvement.
Originally Written by: Rob Dawson
