When Manchester United are in sync, as they were for large stretches of this match, their attack is a blend of organized chaos, while their defense remains compact — evidenced by their four clean sheets this season. They appeared to be on track for a fifth until a costly lapse from Christian Eriksen, who went from goal-scoring hero to villain with a misstep that allowed Sam Lammers to equalize in the 68th minute.
In pursuit of victory, Erik ten Hag made a series of changes, bringing on Rasmus Højlund for Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount for Joshua Zirkee, and Kobbie Mainoo for Eriksen. However, despite a last-minute scramble that saw Harry Maguire's header almost find the net, United's Europa League campaign began with just a point
Ten Hag and Eriksen were each scathing afterwards, saying Twente simply wanted it more. For highly paid professionals at elite level, maximum hunger is a non‑negotiable base requirement. But this is where Ten Hag’s United project remains: in a groundhog day bouncing between the odd good performance and the next duff one.
The latter occurred after an impressive first half. United continued the good on-ball work of the goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday, that featured a possession-heavy style which, according to Ten Hag’s naysayers, is beyond his ken to shape.
There was spoiling, too, from Manuel Ugarte who, on full debut, poked possession away from Youri Regeer at halfway in the kind of act for which he was bought, as did Noussair Mazraoui when Anass Salah-Eddine swooped in along the left byline. The challenge led to a corner that Michel Vlap flashed in from the left. The ball bounced towards the far touchline, Diogo Dalot was robbed by Bart van Rooij, and he fed Lammers. Twente’s No 10, in space, spooned the ball wide of the left post.
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