"Don't judge us in this moment" - Erik ten Hag issues plea to Manchester United fans after Red Devils blow 2-0 lead in 3-3 draw with Porto

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has urged the fans to wait until the end of the season before making a judgment. His comments came after the Red Devils' 3-3 draw against Porto at the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, October 3.

United faced Porto in Round 2 of the 2024-25 UEFA Europa League at the Estadio do Dragao. After Marcus Rashford broke the deadlock in the seventh minute, Rasmus Hojlund doubled the visitors' lead in the 20th minute.

Pepe reduced Porto's arrears in the 27th minute before Samuel Omorodian equalized (34'). After blowing up a two-goal lead, United conceded a third in the 50th minute, when Omorodian completed his brace.

After two yellows, Bruno Fernandes was shown a red card in the 81st minute. However, an injury-time goal from Harry Maguire (90+1') helped the English giants secure a draw.

After the match, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag issued a plea to fans by saying (via Eurosport):

"We will get there. Don't judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. I said the same last season, just wait. We are in the process, we will improve and we have now two seasons where we achieved finals. Just wait, we have to develop and progress this team."

Manchester United are currently 13th in the Premier League, having suffered losses against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Brighton & Hove Albion. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag's men are 21st in the UEFA Europa League with two draws.

Manchester United to offer Harry Maguire a contract extension in 2025: Reports

As per Football Insider, Manchester United could offer Harry Maguire a one-year contract extension. According to the report, INEOS is unwilling to let the English defender leave the Old Trafford outfit for free. Maguire's current contract with United expires next summer.

Earlier, it was suggested that Erik ten Hag's side would sell Maguire in January 2025. However, he would hardly receive decent offers in the market with only six months remaining in his contract. He would become a free agent next summer and the Red Devils are not prepared to let him leave for free.

Ten Hag signed two central defenders, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt, in the summer, pushing Maguire further down the pecking order. However, due to Yoro's early injury, Maguire has been a starter for United.

When Yoro returns, the Englishman could become Ten Hag's third or fourth-choice centre-back with limited opportunities. In 2023 Summer, Maguire was close to joining West Ham United in the summer of 2023, but the deal didn't materialize.