Thursday’s loss followed last Saturday’s 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester City, where Citizens chief Pep Guardiola got the upper hand against United manager Jose Mourinho in their first Premier League meeting.
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Tonny Vilhena’s 79th minute strike proved to be the difference between the sides as the Dutch outfit claimed a memorable victory over their more fancied opponents.
It was a disappointing night at the ground where United won the Cup Winners’ Cup against Barcelona in 1991, with parts of De Kuip closed this time as Feyenoord attempted to avoid triggering suspended punishments handed down by UEFA for crowd trouble. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones starts in goal, and Karim El Ahmadi, once of Aston Villa, plays in midfield.
United set the tone in a first half in which they created nearly nothing against a stubborn Feyenoord defence.
A United source said: “Rooney’s recent comments about wanting to extend his contract certainly pricked a few ears”.
United fans will be familiar with the tireless Dirk Kuyt. It’s clear José Mourinho still has plenty of work still to do. They included pushing centre-back Chris Smalling up front as an emergency striker in the latter stages. But that was clearly not enough for Mourinho. In fact, though, things got worse.
Vilhena finished from Nicola Jorgensen’s cross, but replays showed Jorgensen was offside when the ball was played to him. Given that United have looked far from assured at the back in the past week, plus the travel back from Rotterdam, they could be vulnerable, too.
United’s only real clear-cut opportunity came midway through the opening period, after some smart play from Rashford, Paul Pogba and Matteo Darmian culminated in the latter’s low cross to the edge of the penalty area. Since the transfer from Juventus Pogba’s offering has been underwhelming so here was a chance to lead the side in the manner demanded for that outlay. Striker Eljero Elia, on loan at Southampton last season, scored a hat trick in the season opener but is out with a shoulder injury.
The second half was much of the same and Mourinho acted midway in after some extended pressure from the hosts, bringing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic in hopes of finding the victor – but it was Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men who ended up shocking them late on.
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While that trio are physical specimens, though, the teenage Rashford is all pace. Towards the end of the first half, Feyenoord seemed to have the better chances, getting some pressure on United, but not taking chances, which seems to be the story of the first half, at least.
