Erik ten Hag let down by Man Utd star as Bayern punish pre-match cockiness

Man Utd train ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Manchester United got their Champions League campaign off to a losing start on Wednesday night, leaving the Allianz Arena empty-handed despite scoring three second-half goals against Bayern Munich. A late flurry saw the game finish 4-3 to the hosts, who were deserving of their victory, and Express Sport takes you through five key talking points from an entertaining contest…

Ten Hag made to pay

Eyebrows were raised before kick-off when Erik ten Hag flatly criticised the defending of Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies. “He isn’t a good defender,” said the Dutchman. “[Facundo] Pellistri can match Davies with his dribbling.”

He looked on course to be proven right in the first five minutes when Pellistri got the wrong side of Davies, but the Uruguayan fumbled what should have been a simple tap-in, and he was a passenger for the rest of the game. The battle between Pellistri and Davies ultimately turned out to be a minor one in the grand scheme of the match, with the likes of Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala running the visitors ragged – much like Ten Hag expected his young winger to do to the opposition.

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Kane comes up trumps

It was always going to be a big night for Harry Kane, who faced English opponents for the first time since signing for Bayern in an £86million summer move. Needless to say it was a happy reunion for the England captain.

Although Kane took a while to loosen up, the shackles came off after he assisted Sane’s opener. And the striker was typically potent from the penalty spot to put Bayern 3-1 up in the second half, even if the decision to penalise Christian Eriksen for handball was contentious in itself.

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Onana with another howler

It hasn’t been a straightforward start to life at Old Trafford for Andre Onana. Ten Hag took a gutsy decision by axing the long-serving David de Gea and spending big money on the Cameroonian, and although he is confident with the ball at his feet, Onana’s shot-stopping ability is currently leaving plenty to be desired.

The fact Sane’s tame shot from outside the box found the bottom corner was a disaster for United. Although Onana came up with a series of saves in the second period to try and make amends, it was still a troubled night on the whole.

Hojlund off the mark

Ten Hag gave £72m signing Rasmus Hojlund a big chance to impress in Munich by starting him through the middle. The Dane repaid the Dutchman’s faith by notching his first goal for the Red Devils.

But without wishing to rain on the youngster’s parade, it was hardly a performance for the ages. Scarcely involved throughout the match, Hojlund should have done better with his handful of touches aside from the goal, misplacing a simple lay-off and failing to get across the front post when Marcus Rashford whipped in a cross early on.

His finish, meanwhile, took a helpful deflection, but the goal will surely serve as a valuable and much-needed confidence booster for the weeks ahead.

Reguilon the surprise package

United fans could be forgiven for a lack of excitement around the loan signing of Sergio Reguilon on deadline day. But the left-back showed flashes of genuine promise against Bayern, speeding past Dayot Upamecano to win a foul in the first half before keeping pace with Sane and sliding in to stop a promising attack.

That being said, the Tottenham loanee did not exactly keep Sane under wraps. But with a worrying shortage of full-backs available to Ten Hag, the United boss can at least take comfort in the knowledge that he has one capable of providing blistering pace and a willingness to bomb forward.

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