Manchester United and Tottenham begin their Europa League campaigns this week, seeking to overcome poor Premier League openings. Erik ten Hag’s United are below the top 10 domestically with seven points from five matches after a disappointing season last year.
Despite leading Old Trafford to its worst Premier League position ever of ninth last season, the Dutch manager survived owing to a surprising FA Cup final win over Manchester City. Before their Europa League debut at home to Twente on Wednesday, United spent lavishly in the transfer market but have yet to improve on the pitch.
A goalless draw at Crystal Palace last weekend snuffed out the enthusiasm from the 3-0 win over Southampton and League Cup hammering of Barnsley, but Ten Hag maintains his team is growing.
“We like the performance but not the score. After the Selhurst Park draw, he commented, We’re upset with the score.”
“I know one thing in football: it’s a long way to go, but when you play with the quality we do, points and goals will come.
“Now we can work on the team, we can build structures, we can also bring out some consistency in selection, and that helps, of course, to bring the patterns and routines in, and then you play better.” Last season, Man United finished last in the Champions League, sending them back to the redesigned Europa League.
Anything less than a win over Dutch club Twente, returning in the competition for the first time since 2012, in their first of eight league-phase matches will put pressure on Ten Hag and his players.
Tottenham fans are also dissatisfied for the first time since Ange Postecoglou’s stellar start 12 months ago. At least a 3-1 win against Brentford at the weekend helped them recover from Premier League losses to Newcastle and Arsenal.
Spurs will be anxious to win a major trophy after 17 years and will consider the new Europa League, which will not involve teams from the Champions League, as a wonderful opportunity.
Azeri club Qarabag visits on Thursday. I often say, ‘Show me a success story and I’ll show you a hardship’. Postecoglou stated last week that people forget the struggle and focus on the end.
Crisis-stricken elsewhere Roma host Athletic Bilbao at the Stadio Olimpico to continue their European form. The Serie A club has reached the Europa League semi-finals in three of the past four seasons, aside for Jose Mourinho’s 2022 Conference League win.
Roma supporters were upset with management and players after coach Daniele De Rossi was fired, venting their anger during Sunday’s win over Udinese. CEO Lina Souloukou, who resigned on Saturday morning, was placed under police protection after internet threats against her and her family due to De Rossi’s removal.
A poster outside Roma’s Trigoria training complex called Olympiakos CEO Greek Souloukou “evil”. Eintracht Frankfurt hosts Viktoria Plzen, and four-time European champions Ajax play Besiktas in Amsterdam.
