Not even a first senior goal from star of the future Alejandro Garnacho could prevent Manchester United from ending up in the dreaded Europa League play-offs.
Two extra games in February against a Champions League side is the last thing United need in this bonkers season and that is the hurdle they must now overcome to reach the last 16. They could also face some difficult opponents with Barcelona, Juventus and Erik ten Hag’s old side Ajax lurking in the draw.
United suffered the agony of finishing second to Real Sociedad by a single goal and their opening-day defeat by the Basque side, courtesy of Brais Mendez’s controversial penalty, on the day the Queen died has proved decisive. It all looked so different when Garnacho scored his first goal for United to beat George Best’s record and become the Red Devils’ youngest non-English goalscorer in Europe at 18 years and 125 days.
