Louis van Gaal fighting for his Manchester United future after humiliating defeat at FC Midtjylland - so how did it happen?

Match report, key talking points and what our experts say about Europa League clash between Danish minnows and Louis van Gaal's struggling side

 How did Man Utd lose to Midtjylland?

Manchester United made far too many basic errors, giving the ball away in stupid positions on the edge of their own area for both of the Danish side’s goals, to win away from home in Europe - even if this is only the Europa League.

FC Midtjylland have already knocked Southampton out of this competition and they have their eyes on an even bigger scalp now. United should have taken control of the tie after Memphis Depay had given them the lead midway through the first half, but they allowed their hosts back into it and after missing chances at the start of the second half, they were clinging on at the end.

Injuries meant Louis van Gaal had to field a makeshift backline, with Paddy McNair at centre back and Donald Love starting at right-back, after only making his first team debut against Sunderland last weekend.

 Neither of them had bad games, but there was a general uneasiness about United’s defensive play. Not that they were helped by two mistakes from two of the most experienced players on the pitch.

Captain Michael Carrick’s poor pass allowed Pione Sisto to score the Danish side’s first goal, just before half-time, and Juan Mata lost the ball on the edge of his own area to Paul Onuacha, who swept in the second.

 United hit the crossbar through Jesse Lingard, but all in all, this was another unconvincing performance after the defeat at the Stadium of Light last weekend. Unless they play a lot better next week at Old Trafford, they will go out of the Europa League, even more embarrassingly than they exited the Champions League.

What does it mean for Louis van Gaal?

The Dutchman already knows he is on shaky ground and probably suspects that, regardless of how he does between now and the end of the season, he is going to be replaced in the summer. There has been too much talk about Jose Mourinho arriving in the summer for it to be based on rumour alone.

Van Gaal, though, is a proud and stubborn man and, as he admitted before the game here in Denmark, he came to Manchester United to win silverware and the Europa League is certainly a competition this team should be good enough to win on paper.

For all of the criticism he has taken, some of it deserved and some of it over the top, United were in a strong position to move into the latter stages of two cup competitions at the start of this week.

 The defeat here, though, is undoubtedly another huge setback and further erodes whatever faith remains in the team’s manager.

United are making far too many basic errors to have serious trophy-winning aspirations and both of Midtjylland’s goals came from sloppy United play.

Van Gaal cannot do much about poor passes from his captain, deep in his own half, or the fact one of his most creative players, Juan Mata, lost the ball on the edge of his own area, but he will take the blame anyway.

 United may well still progress in the Europa League given they return to England with an away goal , but the defeat did nothing to help van Gaal argue he should still be in charge next season.

United's travelling support made their feelings clear singing "we are f****** s***" loudly and for some time in the second half

How did Anthony Martial do as a central striker?

There is a probably a very good reason van Gaal has mainly played Martial in wide areas because that seems to be where he does his best work. At the moment, the young Frenchman does not look like a centre-forward in the traditional sense. He does not seem comfortable playing on the shoulder of the last defender or with his back to goal and he lacks the anticipation of a poacher in the Andy Cole mould.

Instead, he thrives when he collects the ball out wide, running at the defenders and his quick feet were once again on show again here.

 Was possibly unlucky not to earn a penalty when his dribbling skills brought a rash challenge from Kian Hansenn inside the area, but when crosses were delivered, Martial lacked either the bravery – taking his eye off the ball as he contested a header six yards when Danny Blind’s cross which could have been converted – or the instinct to know where the balls is likely to drop.

The raw materials are there for Martial to turn into an excellent centre-forward and he will score goals, wherever he plays, but he is not prolific at this stage in his career because he is not a natural centre forward.

United will miss Wayne Rooney through the middle while he is injured unless Martial learns the art quickly.

Who was the man of the match?

Sergio Romero

The mantra of a second choice goalkeeper is “always be prepared” and Sergio Romero was everything he needed to be in Denmark. The Argentinian would have been worrying about how he was going to stay warm on the bench when David De Gea hurt his ankle before kick-off, but he stepped up superbly, making two excellent saves, firstly keeping out Kian Hansen’s header at a corner and then to claw another header from Paul Onuachu away from the top corner. 

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