The Fenerbahce Player Who Amazed the English! “Faced Manchester United, It Was Fantastic”

Fenerbahce drew 1-1 against English giant Manchester United at home in the UEFA Europa League match on matchday 3. Our representative fell behind 1-0 with a goal from Christian Eriksen in the 15th minute, but equalized with a beautiful header from Youssef En-Nesyri in the 49th minute. With this point, the yellow-blues raised their total to 5 and currently sit in 14th place on the points table. English football journalists shared their exclusive comments with Spor Arena regarding the performances of both teams.

Fenerbahce faced Manchester United in Kadikoy. The Red Devils closed the first half leading 1-0 with a goal from Christian Eriksen assisted by Joshua Zirkzee in the 15th minute. After the goal, the yellow-blues increased their pressure and leveled the score with Youssef En-Nesyri’s goal, who capitalized on a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin from the left flank. Despite missing clear goal-scoring opportunities throughout the match, Fenerbahce managed to earn a point against a tough opponent. Our English colleagues shared their analyses of the thrilling 90 minutes. The journalists also evaluated head coach Jose Mourinho.

ENGLISH JOURNALISTS’ OPINIONS AFTER THE MATCH IN KADIKOY: CARL ANKA (THE ATHLETIC):
“It Was a Tough Match for Erik Ten Hag’s Team”
It was a tough match for Erik Ten Hag’s team. The squad was dealing with several injuries, and Bruno Fernandes was suspended, so he couldn’t play. The Manchester United coach made a surprising change, moving Noussair Mazraoui from his usual defensive position to an attacking midfield role. In the early stages of the game, it seemed the plan was working. The Moroccan player helped Christian Eriksen score the opening goal of the match thanks to his collaboration with Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho. However, Manchester United had to rely on luck at times. For example, Manuel Ugarte made a crucial intervention close to the goal line to prevent Manchester United from conceding. Goalkeeper Andre Onana made a significant double save against Youssef En-Nesyri’s header. The Cameroonian has improved even more in his second season at Manchester United, and his saves were definitely needed during this challenging period.

“Youssef En-Nesyri Showcased His Talents Once Again”
Manchester United’s first-half performance clearly demonstrated Fenerbahce’s threat. Erik Ten Hag’s team has a habit of conceding goals shortly after scoring, and this was repeated here. Manuel Ugarte made excellent interventions to prevent the Turkish team from advancing in midfield, but Allan Saint-Maximin’s runs from the wings helped change the course of the game. Youssef En-Nesyri scored two goals against Manchester United in the Europa League during the 2022-23 season while playing for Sevilla. He showcased his talents once again in this match. En-Nesyri is one of the most impressive forwards in aerial duels, and his quality in heading was clearly visible to everyone. Additionally, Alexander Djiku performed significantly well in defense.

“Jose Mourinho Can Be Successful If Given Time”
Jose Mourinho protested during the second half, believing his team deserved a penalty and was shown a red card. Fenerbahce, which drew against Manchester United, currently sits in 14th place in the Europa League points table. Fenerbahce looks capable of continuing to compete in European competitions if they achieve good results in the remaining five matches. Jose Mourinho is a coach who will keep Fenerbahce defensively solid. Players like Dusan Tadic and Saint-Maximin will continue to create opportunities for others thanks to Mourinho. He could be successful if given time. They need to perform well against Bodrum FK this weekend, and after that, they will continue on their path.

JACQUE TALBOT (FOOTBALL TRANSFERS):
“Fenerbahce Should Not Be Underrated. They Fought Very Well”
It’s a bad thing for a team to have to rely solely on their goalkeeper. It’s great to see Andre Onana back in form, but I believe Manchester United could have signed someone better with the money spent in the summer. Erik Ten Hag won’t be at the club next season; I think everyone knows that. Nevertheless, Fenerbahce should not be underrated. Even when Manchester United scored, I still didn’t feel comfortable because they have a habit of not being able to maintain their advantages. I think Fenerbahce fought very well against them. It was yet another match where Manchester United could not win in the Europa League.

DJIKU IMPRESSED: “HE DEALT WELL WITH MANCHESTER UNITED”
Dusan Tadic brought great experience to Fenerbahce. Although the entire front three was like that, I really enjoyed Djiku’s performance; he was fantastic. Djiku looked very composed in the heart of defense and handled Manchester United well.

“I Don’t Think There’s Anyone Better Than Jose Mourinho for This Job”
Mourinho’s system worked well against his old club. In fact, I think at one point Mourinho felt Fenerbahce was on the verge of winning the match by looking at the game. Jose Mourinho is a world-class coach, and fans will stand behind him. Mourinho only expects respect for his work. He may need some time to get things right. Sometimes, not everything comes down to the coach. I don’t think there is anyone better than him for this job. Although Mourinho didn’t start Fenerbahce off well, this performance shows that he can achieve something and get the best out of his players when needed.