Fenerbahce hold Manchester United to a draw in Istanbul, spotlight on Jose Mourinho

Mourinho quipped he'd take a future job outside Europe after receiving a red card during a dispute over a penalty.

Manchester United faced off against Fenerbahce on Thursday night, ending the match in a 1-1 draw.

The visitors opened the scoring early in the 15th minute, with Christian Eriksen finishing off a well-coordinated move.

However, Fenerbahce didn’t back down; they pushed for an equalizer throughout the first half but were thwarted by an impressive double save from United goalkeeper Andre Onana.

After the break, Fenerbahce found their equalizer when Youssef En-Nesyri headed home a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin in the 49th minute.

The goal continued United’s worrying trend of conceding shortly after halftime, a pattern that has plagued them in recent matches.

In response to the goal, United manager Erik ten Hag made tactical changes, bringing on Rasmus Hojlund and Casemiro for Joshua Zirkzee and Victor Lindelof.

The adjustments aimed to restore United’s familiar style of play, though it came with mixed results. Eriksen remained pivotal in creating chances, while Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte held the midfield.

Defensively, United struggled to maintain control, particularly with Diogo Dalot’s lackluster performance at right-back, where he was repeatedly caught out of position.

Onana’s heroics were essential in keeping the score level, especially when he pulled off two stunning saves late in the first half. Just moments after Victor Lindelof blocked an En-Nesyri effort, Onana demonstrated his reflexes, saving a powerful header from the Fenerbahce striker.

Mourinho's red card

As the second half unfolded, former United manager Jose Mourinho was shown a red card after vehemently protesting a referee's decision not to award a penalty. Despite his dismissal, Mourinho's Fenerbahce side held their ground to secure a point.

Mourinho expressed pride in his team's performance, stating, “They got a point against us, not us against them. I think my boys did an amazing match." He highlighted the challenges his squad faced, including injuries and missing players, yet praised their effort against a team he regarded as superior.

United's Erik ten Hag acknowledged the quality of Fenerbahce but lamented the dropped points. “It is not a bad point, but we want to win,” he said. He emphasized the importance of converting chances, noting, “We had chances to make a second goal. Disappointed not to win.”