For a club who have been champions of Europe three times, a win in continental competition really shouldn’t be such a rarity. But it was 380 days since Manchester United had tasted victory against foreign opposition. Now, finally, they have.
That year-long wait had formed one of the damning statistics that engulfed Erik ten Hag towards the end of his reign. After arguably United’s worst ever European campaign last season – certainly among those to feature a group stage – came a trio of draws. Ruud van Nistelrooy as at least succeeded where Ten Hag had failed, chalking up a Europa League triumph at the first time of asking, even if his victims are winless in this competition.
