Under-fire Erik ten Hag was frustrated by some risible Manchester United defending in a chaotic Europa League clash that looked set to end in a humiliating loss in Porto until Harry Maguire’s late leveller.
Sunday’s shambolic 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham increased the focus on the Dutch manager, whose side flew out of the blocks in Portugal as Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund struck.
But United’s soft underbelly was exposed as Pepe and Samu Omorodion then scored in quick succession, with the latter – a summer target of Chelsea – then slamming Porto ahead early in the second half.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a second straight game as United sought a leveller, which substitute Maguire provided with a header at the death to salvage a 3-3 draw.
“I think it’s mixed feelings,” said the United boss, who remains under pressure heading into Sunday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
“When you are winning a game… we all know this is a very tough place to go and then you start so well, the players executed the plan, I would say, brilliantly.
“We scored two great goals and then we switch it off and we don’t keep so much possession as before. Defending we’re switching off.
“We concede the first goal totally unnecessarily and then you know when you light up the fire in this stadium, in this ambience, then it’s becomes really tough.
“We addressed it in a half-time and then you concede the third one, so unnecessary. It’s not good defending again. It’s also to do with some willingness in such moments.
“But then I have to praise the guys for how they return in the game, how they fight, how we find a way to get the equaliser.
“It’s not only about in stopping time with a set play, but we also had beforehand some good
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