Goalkeeper
Andre Onana – 5/10
Onana had a mixed evening, showing moments of composure but also some lapses in decision-making. While he made a couple of decent saves, his distribution, usually one of his strong points, was inconsistent. He couldn’t do much about the goals United conceded but failed to inspire confidence overall.
Defence
Diogo Dalot – 4/10
The Portuguese full-back struggled defensively, often being caught out of position. Viktoria Plzen targeted his flank, and Dalot found it difficult to keep up with their pacey wingers. Offensively, his crosses lacked precision, leaving his impact minimal on both ends of the pitch.
Raphael Varane – 5/10
Varane, a usually reliable presence, seemed a step off the pace. While he won a few aerial duels, his positioning was suspect at times, contributing to United’s defensive frailty. He was far from his commanding best.
Harry Maguire – 3/10
Maguire endured a torrid time, with his lack of pace and poor decision-making exposed repeatedly. His failure to track runners and a crucial mistake leading to one of Plzen’s goals summed up his disappointing night. Questions about his long-term role in the squad will only intensify after this performance.
Luke Shaw – 6/10
One of the better performers in defence, Shaw worked tirelessly down the left flank. While he was not flawless, he provided some attacking impetus and delivered a few dangerous crosses. Defensively, he held his ground better than his counterparts.
Midfield
Casemiro – 4/10
The Brazilian struggled to impose himself in the middle of the park. Plzen’s energetic midfield bypassed him too easily, leaving United vulnerable in transition. While he made a few tackles, his passing lacked the sharpness needed to control the tempo.
Bruno Fernandes – 7/10
Bruno was one of the few bright spots in midfield. The captain tried to drive the team forward with his creative passing and relentless energy. He registered an assist with a perfectly weighted ball for Højlund and showed leadership in difficult moments.
Christian Eriksen – 3/10
Eriksen had an uncharacteristically poor game, failing to influence proceedings with his usually pinpoint passing. He looked off the pace, struggled defensively, and contributed little to United’s attack. A night to forget for the Dane.
Attack
Antony – 5/10
The Brazilian winger had a frustrating game. While he showed flashes of skill, his decision-making in the final third was questionable. His shots and crosses often failed to find their target, and he struggled to make a consistent impact.
Marcus Rashford – 6/10
Rashford worked hard and showed glimpses of his quality, particularly with his direct runs. However, his end product was lacking on the night, with a few missed chances and misplaced passes in crucial moments.
Rasmus Højlund – 8/10
The standout performer for United, Højlund was a beacon of hope in an otherwise underwhelming team display. The Danish striker scored a well-taken goal and constantly troubled the Plzen defence with his intelligent movement and physicality. His link-up play and work rate were commendable, offering a glimpse of his potential as a key figure in United’s attack.
Substitutes
Scott McTominay – 5/10
Brought on to add steel to the midfield, McTominay worked hard but offered little in terms of creativity. His presence helped steady the ship, but it wasn’t enough to change the game.
Jadon Sancho – 5/10
Sancho showed some urgency after coming on, but his influence was limited. He struggled to find openings against a well-organized Plzen defence.
Victor Lindelöf – 5/10
Lindelöf replaced Maguire late in the game and looked more composed. However, with limited time, he couldn’t make a significant impact.
Overall Assessment
United’s 3-2 loss to Viktoria Plzen exposed familiar vulnerabilities, particularly in defence. Rasmus Højlund’s impressive performance was a rare positive, but the lack of cohesion and individual errors remain major concerns for Erik ten Hag. If United are to compete at the highest level, consistency and accountability will need to improve across the squad.
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