Manchester United have taken a £100m risk with their goalscoring problems

Erik ten Hag's childhood friend was in the press box on Wednesday night. He uploaded a video of Twente players, staff and supporters choreographing their full-time celebrations with the caption, "Please add this to the category I was there."

Ten Hag subtly and ruefully acknowledged one of his compatriots as he left the press conference room. A boyhood Twente fan and still a follower of the club, he must have envied the Tukkers who savoured their special evening at Old Trafford.

When the Twente analysts attempted to leave the press box, an ill-informed steward prevented them, only for two colleagues to stress they were members of staff of the opposition. The Dutchmen were grateful and soon joined their colleagues.

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They embraced ardently at full-time. Twente got a point but it felt like three. Their 3,500 followers outsang the Manchester United supporters all evening and amplified what would have been an otherwise humdrum occasion.

United's performance was mundane. We have seen it before on European nights dating back to Sir Alex Ferguson's epoch. Some ties do not set the pulses racing and it can filter through to the team's performance.

It was still startling to hear Christian Eriksen remark "they looked like they wanted it more than us". Twente were bound to be more motivated but if United maintained a professional level of focus they would have seen off one of the lowest-ranked teams in the Europa League.

The competition's dreadful new format demotivates reporters and supporters. Many United fans will have skipped Wednesday night and the compact press room was so quiet there were spare seats aplenty.

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