Manchester United are about to discover what Real Madrid learnt last season

Manchester United began their Europa League campaign with a surprise defeat against Real Sociedad at Old Trafford last week. Erik ten Hag picked a strong starting line up for the match and the 1-0 defeat was certainly not part of the script on the night.

David de Gea, Tyrell Malacia, Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen and Antony all started after defeating Arsenal, while the players that came into the side were hardly short of pedigree. Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo have 10 Champions League titles between them.

United were almost at full strength and they had enough talent on the pitch to control the game - yet they did not. United looked lacklustre, pedestrian and devoid of creativity instead and that was exacerbated when Eriksen was replaced at half-time.

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Real Sociedad were awarded a penalty in the second half and they converted from the spot to eventually win the game. That penalty should never have been given but that should not excuse the performance from Ten Hag's side.

Although it would have been a goalless draw had that penalty not been given, that would have still represented an uninspiring result considering the players United had on the pitch. The performance was equally confusing and poor.

After taking 12 points from Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester and Arsenal, the regression against Sociedad came as a surprise. Ten Hag was unable to address the performance as there was no post-match coverage as a mark of respect for the Queen, which might've been an explanation in itself.

Ten Hag will be asked about the performance on Wednesday when he speaks at his pre-match press conference. United take on FC Sheriff in the Europa League again on Thursday night and they