Erik ten Hag must avoid falling into same Manchester United trap as Sir Alex Ferguson vs FC Copenhagen

Manchester United's trip to Copenhagen on Wednesday night is fraught with danger given the Reds' perilous position in their Champions League group.

Defeat would deal a severe blow to any ambitions of progressing to the knockout stages while even a draw would leave United in danger of failing to navigate what should have been a straightforward passage into the last 16.

Erik ten Hag's side just about got the job done in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford and although the Danes sit bottom of the pile, they will pose a threat in a sell-out Parken Stadium. Indeed, United have lost on their only previous visit to the Danish capital and Sir Alex Ferguson's words after that 1-0 reverse should act as a warning for this United squad.

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Ferguson felt his side, who went into that 2006 contest knowing a win would see them through to the last 16, became desperate and were made to pay for a lack of a clinical edge.

"We have really thrown it away," said Ferguson. "Maybe we were careless in our finishing but I think it was a comfortable performance up until the goal.

"Then there was some desperation in our play but it just shows you that in European football if you don't take your chance that can happen to you. It is a throwaway for us, but we are still in a good position - this result just tells us you need an edge to your game in these matches."

United have lacked an edge for much of this season with a mixed start yielding eight defeats across all competitions and some pretty unconvincing displays even in victory. The Reds travel to Scandinavia needing a win this time around for different reasons to those