In the Europa League, it’s been consistently underwhelming for United this season, remaining unbeaten but lacking in consistency to turn performances into wins, letting games slip and struggling to see out results. Enter Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, as the Special One was always bound to make the event about him, but with the football slightly underwhelming again, his appearance was one that leaves United fans still unsure about his legacy at the club, and whether he would be welcomed back or not.

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Teams

United made a baffling tactical choice for this clash, with Ten Hag opting for Mazraoui as the no.10, while Antony, Amad and Hojlund sat on the bench to start. While Ten Hag argued this was tactical and something he planned to try, it left questions over the decision making, when Zirkzee could have been better suited in this role, Amad could have been tried, Rashford could have given in a go and Christian Eriksen is a perfect fit. An odd choice that without a positive result, leaves fans with confusion about Ten Hag once again.

For Fenerbahce, it was a real throwback side led by Mourinho, with Fred and Amrabat both former United players starting in the midfield, there were many other notable former Premier League stars in the squad as the Turkish league sweeps up players on the other side of their peak.

Fenerbahce: Livakovic, Osayi-Samuel (Becao 62′), Soyuncu, Djiku, Muldur, Szymanski (Yandas 90′), Fred, Amrabat, Saint-Maximin (Yuksek 79′), En-Nesyri (Dzeko 79′), Tadic (Kahveci 79′)

Subs: Cetin, Egribayat, Akaydin, Akcicek, Dursun, Tograk, Tosun

Manchester United: Onana, Martinez, Lindelof (Casemiro 55′), De Ligt, Dalot, Eriksen, Ugarte, Garnacho, Mazraoui, Rashford (Antony 73′ – Amad 89′), Zirkzee (Hojlund 55′)

Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Ogunneye, Amass, Wheatley

Fenerbahce 1-1 Manchester United

Manchester United drew first blood early in Istanbul. In the 15th minute, a slick United move saw Joshua Zirkzee tee up a pass that found Christian Eriksen, who struck superbly from the edge of the box to give United the lead. The visitors controlled large spells in the first half; their midfield worked well to keep Fenerbahçe at bay. Meanwhile, André Onana was called into action several times and produced a stunning double save before the break to maintain United’s advantage.

But Fenerbahçe came out with renewed energy after half-time, and just four minutes into the second half, Youssef En-Nesyri rose to head home a cross from Allan Saint-Maximin and level the score. The equaliser gave the hosts momentum, and tempers flared soon after when José Mourinho, Fenerbahçe’s manager, was sent off for vehemently protesting a penalty shout. The dismissal added some spice to the match but didn’t derail the tone of the contest.

As the game wore on, both teams had moments to grab a winner. United looked to push in the final third, but couldn’t find that decisive finish, while Fenerbahçe probed hard on the wings. Late drama came when Antony went off on a stretcher after an injury, slowing the rhythm of the closing stages. In the end, a 1–1 draw felt fair on balance, United leaving Istanbul with a point but still searching for that elusive Europa League win, and Fenerbahçe earning a hard-fought result under their passionate home crowd.

Talking Points

The spotlight before kick‑off was firmly on José Mourinho, returning to face Manchester United for the first time since his tenure at Old Trafford. Now in charge of Fenerbahçe, Mourinho brought his usual tactical discipline, setting up his side to frustrate the visitors and exploit any mistakes. His animated touchline presence added an extra layer of drama, culminating in a fiery protest and a sending‑off after a penalty appeal in the second half. It was a reunion that provided plenty of talking points and plenty of spice for both sets of fans.

From United’s perspective, the draw maintained their unbeaten record in this Europa League campaign, keeping them in a strong position in the group. Christian Eriksen’s early opener gave Ten Hag’s side a platform, and despite Fenerbahçe’s second‑half equaliser, United controlled large parts of the match. The midfield orchestrated play well, while Onana’s goalkeeping ensured the visitors avoided any late heartbreak. This point keeps United on track, but it also highlighted areas that still need improvement before the knockout stages.

Yet there was a lingering sense that United should have taken all three points. They created multiple chances, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Højlund all coming close, and a few late opportunities went begging. The visitors arguably dominated possession and looked the more dangerous side, but a lack of clinical finishing allowed Fenerbahçe to cling on. Despite leaving Istanbul unbeaten, there is frustration within the camp, and among the supporters, that such a commanding performance did not translate into a victory.