Manchester United fans are voicing their frustrations loud and clear after a chaotic defensive performance in the 3-3 Europa League draw against Porto. What initially appeared to be a comfortable match for United quickly spiraled into disaster, with two key defenders finding themselves at the heart of the criticism. The fanbase is now calling for drastic changes ahead of the club’s next Premier League match.
The Red Devils got off to a flying start, going 2-0 up within the first 20 minutes thanks to a clinical finish from Marcus Rashford and a composed strike from Rasmus Hojlund. Everything seemed to be falling into place for Erik ten Hag’s men. However, the tide quickly turned as Porto fought back, exposing Manchester United’s defensive frailties. Veteran defender Pepe pulled one back for Porto, reigniting the home crowd, and 20-year-old striker Samu Omorodion then took over, scoring two goals and completing a stunning comeback for the Portuguese side.
Omorodion, a rising star formerly of Atletico Madrid, had a field day against United’s defense. His pace, physicality, and intelligent movement terrorized United’s central defensive pairing of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt. The duo, who had once been seen as Ten Hag’s go-to center-back partnership, were left chasing shadows throughout the night at the Estadio do Dragao. The defensive frailties became glaringly obvious as Omorodion’s dominance led to repeated breakdowns in United’s backline.
By the 77th minute, United found themselves trailing 3-2, and Ten Hag had seen enough. In a move that signaled his lack of faith in the pair’s performance, Martinez and De Ligt were substituted, with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans brought on to stabilize the defense. While Maguire has been a target of criticism in recent seasons, it was his late heroics that salvaged a point for United. The center-back popped up with a stoppage-time equalizer to make it 3-3, sparing United further embarrassment.
Despite Maguire’s late contribution, the focus of the fans quickly turned to the underperforming Martinez and De Ligt. Social media was flooded with calls for the pair to be dropped, with many supporters clamoring for changes in the backline. With the anticipated return of Leny Yoro, a £52 million summer signing, fans are hopeful that he can provide the stability they’ve been missing.
One disgruntled fan voiced their frustrations online, saying, “Chuckle brothers to start at Villa Park on Sunday. Drop De Ligt & Martinez.” The reference to the duo as “Chuckle brothers” highlighted the fans’ growing impatience with their repeated errors. Another supporter added, “De Ligt cannot start on Sunday. Martinez will be lucky to start,” underlining the growing demand for a shake-up in defense.
The outcry didn’t stop there. A third fan simply urged the club to bring back their summer signing, stating, “Get Leny Yoro back, man.” The young defender, who has been sidelined with an injury, is seen as the potential solution to United’s ongoing defensive woes. Another fan was even more direct, writing, “Leny Yoro can’t come back soon enough. First-choice pairing should be him and Maguire until Martinez and De Ligt get their st together.”**
Maguire, who has often been criticized for his performances in a United shirt, found himself in an unusual position of support from the fans, especially after his match-saving goal. One fan even went as far as saying, “I need me a Leny Yoro and Harry Maguire partnership.” This sudden shift in support for Maguire and the enthusiasm for Yoro’s return speaks volumes about how desperate the fanbase is for defensive changes.
As the pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag to reassess his defensive lineup, the United boss will be fully aware that his decisions for the next Premier League fixture, particularly the upcoming match against Aston Villa at Villa Park, will be under intense scrutiny. **Will he stick with Martinez and De Ligt, or will
he turn to the