By LEWIS BROWNING
Published: 14:08 EST, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 14:23 EST, 12 December 2024
Ruben Amorim will have been 'furious' with Man United's first half showing against Viktoria Plzen. Owen Hargreaves has claimed.
United were looking to continue to build under their manager as they continued to get used to the 3-4-3 system the Portuguese is trying to implement since taking over from Erik ten Hag.
They had also been hoping to climb the Europa League table, as they eyed automatic qualification for the next round with the hopes of avoided a play-off.
But they got off to a nightmare start with a dull first half showing, before Andre Onana gifted former Burnley and Derby striker Matej Vydra the opening goal of the game.
Ramus Hojlund levelled things up after good work from Amad Diallo, but United continued to give up chances, with Vydra dragging a golden chance wide in the second half.
Former United midfielder Hargreaves was critical of Amorim's side at the half time break, insisting that their efforts would not have gone down well with their new manager.
'They have dominated possession but not created anything really,' he said on TNT Sports. 'I don’t want to make excuses but maybe it is cold. They need to do more, they have good players out there.
'Bruno [Fernandes] is there to play that ball but it is not on, just keep it. They are trying to find their way with the system. Amorim will be furious that they have played like that.'
Karen Carney added: 'I was excited to see [Joshua] Zirkzee in the middle but they have been really sloppy. A couple of glimpses from Zirkzee but I have been disappointed, it has lacked intensity and the decision making has been poor.
'I feel like they have been a little bit asleep in the final third.'
Europa League FinalRuben Amorim