Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana insisted Noussair Mazraoui beginning within the ‘quantity 10’ position towards Fenerbahce was “pragmatic” and didn’t come as a shock to the squad.
Regardless of the general public response previous to kick-off, opposing supervisor Jose Mourinho additionally mentioned he wasn’t shocked as a consequence of already being tipped off that it was a chance.
Mazraoui is primarily a defender, however Erik ten Hag defined beforehand that he had beforehand used the full-back in an attacking midfield place with former membership Ajax and was eager to faucet into his urgent talents within the absence of suspended United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Onana was teammate of Mazraoui’s underneath Ten Hag at Ajax and has seen the flexibility up shut.
“He did job for us. We’re pleased with him and joyful along with his efficiency,” the goalkeeper defined to TNT Sports activities after the sport.
“He used to play there when he was youthful so I believe, generally, we have now to be pragmatic with the pink playing cards and accidents. Typically, gamers have to step up. That is what Mazraoui did and he was sensible for the group as a result of the group wanted him there and I am pleased with him.”
Mazraoui did certainly press when Fenerbahce had been in possession, whereas he additionally had involvement within the United aim scored by Christian Eriksen, entering into the field and knocking a low cross in direction of Joshua Zirkzee, who then laid the ball off for the Dane to web from 18 yards.
When the groups had been launched forward of kick-off, it did not section Mourinho both. United solely took three midfielders with them to Istanbul as a consequence of Fernandes being suspended and Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Toby Collyer dominated out via harm. It meant there have been solely a finite variety of choices to switch Fernandes and ex-United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, a former Ten Hag participant at Utrecht and a global teammate of Mazraoui’s, flagged to his present boss.
“The state of affairs with Mazraoui, for you was possibly an enormous shock. However not for us as a result of Sofyan Amrabat informed me Mazraoui can play on this place. He did it rather a lot with Erik ten Hag in Ajax. He has the qualities. He is not Bruno however he has the legs to press,” Mourinho defined.
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