Van de Beek opens up on mistake that cost Man Utd two points vs Young Boys

Donny van de Beek has opened up over his mistake that cost Manchester United against Young Boys on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils are already through to the next round of the Champions League after wins against Villarreal and Atalanta in the previous fixtures.

It allowed Ralf Rangnick to take an expansive view of his squad after naming a number of fringe players in the line-up.

Included were Juan Mata, Eric Bailly and Van de Beek - who became a peripheral figure with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm.

For the Dutchman, it was a chance to shine under a new manager and finally stake a claim for a spot in the United XI.

But it ended up being a nightmare evening for the former Ajax star, who was at fault as Young Boys equalised in the first-half.

Mason Greenwood had put United ahead at Old Trafford with a sensational bicycle kick from a Luke Shaw cross.

However, with minutes to go before half-time, Van de Beek tried to find Aaron Wan-Bissaka with a nonchalant pass that did not find him.

Instead, Fabian Rieder picked up the loose ball and curled an absolute stunner past Dean Henderson that left the Red Devils keeper with no chance.

Van de Beek looked distraught as soon as it flew in and had to be consoled by some of his teammates.

And as United failed to threaten the Young Boys goal anymore, they had to make do with a point in a performance that Rangnick called "sloppy".

The midfielder admitted he was at fault for the result and that the incident had rattled the Red Devils.

He told MUTV: "I think first 30 minutes was okay, we made a good goal from Mason, after that we have a few chances to make it 2-0 or 3-0.

"We didn't do that. I think if we'd done that it would have been much easier.

"Then 1-1. For me, lost the ball in the middle, maybe I should kick the ball away. I didn't do that. I take my responsibility for that.

"And after that I think it was a little bit difficult. I think we didn't get enough pressure on them, with the ball as well we lost too many balls and it's really difficult to command the game.

"But overall I think for a few guys they made their first game in the Champions League. Of course congratulations to them because I know it's really special to play this night.

"So 1-1 and now focus on the next one [against Norwich] in the Premier League."

United have some relatively favourable fixtures coming up over the Christmas period, taking on Norwich, Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle and Burnley before 2022 starts - all of whom are in the bottom-half of the table except the Seagulls, who are ninth.