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Three decades ago, when Manchester United were about to face Galatasaray, they were greeted with banners declaring \u2018Welcome to Hell\u2019. Thirty years on, United may have found hell: not in Istanbul, but in Manchester. A second home defeat in four days sent them spiralling into crisis.<\/p>\n
So much for Raphael Varane\u2019s assertion that they can win the Champions League. At this rate, bottom of the group, beaten six times in all competitions already this season, they may not even be playing in the Europa League after Christmas.<\/p>\n
A 3-2 loss came courtesy of their own failings: of disastrous defending, of the indiscipline of the sent-off Casemiro, of the poor team selection of Erik ten Hag. Even a colossal contribution by Rasmus Hojlund, who scored twice, had another goal disallowed and provided a chance that Bruno Fernandes really should have taken, was obscured by United\u2019s ineptitude.<\/p>\n
It says something that Davinson Sanchez \u2013 that Davinson Sanchez, the former Tottenham centre-back \u2013 registered two assists. The second encapsulated United\u2019s haplessness. The Colombian\u2019s header from his own half released Mauro Icardi to run through a dink a shot over Andre Onana, a goalkeeper with a marked reluctance to save any shots.<\/p>\n
It was rendered easier because Icardi, escaping behind United\u2019s centre-backs, was played onside by the out-of-position makeshift left-back Sofyan Amrabat. It was a wretched night for United\u2019s full-backs: Amrabat was partly culpable for Galatasaray\u2019s second equaliser as well when Bans Yilmaz raced into space behind him before finding Kerem Akturkoglu to finish.<\/p>\n
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Galatasaray\u2019s first goal \u2013 scored, with a certain inevitability, by Wilfried Zaha \u2013 could be put down to Diogo Dalot. Outmuscled by the winger as Sanchez\u2019s long ball landed in front of him, he allowed Zaha to hook in a shot that bounced over Onana. It was not the first time United had grounds to rue their mismanagement of Sir Alex Ferguson\u2019s last signing. Zaha played four times for them and has now scored four goals against them.<\/p>\n
Yet Zaha, too, was demoted to a supporting character in the broader tragicomedy of another display of United haplessness. They were a team who were twice reprieved and immediately conceded. Akturkoglu was guilty of a glaring miss when Onana spilled the ball; United let him score instead shortly afterwards. Icardi drilled a spot kick wide after Casemiro, in his final contribution, chopped down Dries Mertens. He was soon on the scoresheet anyway.<\/p>\n
And for Casemiro, cautioned in the first half, a third red card of a brief United career highlighted how his lack of mobility and their shambolic tactics are dual problems. The Brazilian cannot get to the ball as quickly as he used to. United leave him exposed and, after Onana gave the ball away, he slid in on Mertens.<\/p>\n
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Manchester United had Casemiro sent off in their home defeat to Galatasaray (Martin Rickett\/PA)<\/p>\n
For United, defeat to Bayern Munich by a one-goal margin may have had a certain respectability, much as he 4-3 scoreline in Germany flattered them. A loss at home to Galatasaray has no such sheen. The Turkish champions struggled past Molde in a play-off and went 2-0 down to FC Copenhagen two weeks ago. They brimmed with spirit and showed quality in attack, but the architects of defeat were United themselves.<\/p>\n
Ten Hag has to take his share of the blame. Picking Hannibal Mejbri backfired and not merely because the youngster, who was hauled off at half-time, contrived to block a goalbound shot from Mason Mount. Yet to focus on the rookie would be overly harsh: senior figures were found wanting.<\/p>\n
And the one player who should escape censure was United\u2019s youngest starter. Hojlund was outstanding, taking his tally to three goals in two Champions League games, twice putting United ahead. They should have led earlier, Fernandes miscuing a shot wide after the Dane wriggled clear to cross.<\/p>\n
Then Casemiro hooked a pass over their defence, Marcus Rashford chased it and lifted in a cross and Hojlund accelerated past Davinson Sanchez to head it in.<\/p>\n
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The ubiquitous Colombian had a part in his second, too, slipping as the \u00a372m man sprinted half the length of the pitch to lift a shot over Fernando Muslera. United could rue the moment when Rashford, in trying to provide Fernandes with an open goal, under-hit a pass and allowed Sacha Boey to intercept. Often criticised for his decision-making, this time Rashford\u2019s execution was the issue.<\/p>\n
But they had far greater problems, lacking control or cohesion, wrenched open, taking the total of goals conceded in Europe this season to seven already.<\/p>\n
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They have horrible memories of visiting Istanbul three decades ago and of being eliminated from the Champions League by Galatasaray. A return at the end of November could come with a similar fate.<\/p>\n
And a comparison would emphasise their failings: In a year when Manchester City won the Champions League in Istanbul, Manchester United could exit it there.<\/p>\n