Fenerbahce frustrate Manchester United as Jose Mourinho sees red

ISTANBUL - Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was ejected from the sidelines as his current team held his previous club Manchester United to a 1-1 draw on Oct 24, further prolonging the English giants' quest for a Europa League victory.

United have drawn all three of their European games this season and a point does little to ease the pressure on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.

Christian Eriksen fired a depleted United in front on 15 minutes, but Fenerbahce had the better of the chances and got their reward when Youssef En Nesyri equalised early in the second half.

A point leaves United languishing in 21st of the 36-team table and with their chances of securing a top-eight finish to progress directly to the last 16 fading.

Fenerbahce are in 14th on five points, with a top-24 finish enough to qualify for the playoff stage.

United were without 10 players, including captain Bruno Fernandes, due to suspension or injury.

Ten Hag said the players available to him were still capable of getting the job done but their failure to do so means United have not won a European game for a full year.

In Fernandes’ absence, defender Noussair Mazraoui started in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role and had a part of play in an impressive opening goal.

Manuel Ugarte dispossessed former United midfielder Fred to launch a counter-attack that involved Alejandro Garnacho and Mazraoui before Joshua Zirkzee teed up Eriksen to blast home from the edge of the area.

Marcus Rashford was inches away from doubling the visitors’ lead with a low shot that clipped the outside of the post after a jinking solo run.

However, for the third time in three Europa League matches, Ten Hag’s men failed to build on taking the lead.

Ugarte has struggled to establish himself since arriving in a £50 million (S$85 million) deal from Paris Saint-Germain in August.

But the Uruguayan showed the defensive awareness that attracted United’s interest with a brilliant goal-saving challenge to deny Dusan Tadic a tap in.