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As former Manchester United misfit Donny van de Beek saw his cross deflect into the Feyenoord net in Wednesday’s Champions League thriller, he must have wondered for a second if his luck was turning.

Few players have endured a more miserable couple of years than the former Ajax star.

Tumbling down the pecking order at Manchester United, Donny van de Beek saw loan spells at Everton and Eintracht Frankfurt ruined by poor form and ill-timed injury issues. According to one Bundesliga expert, Van de Beek performed even worse for Frankfurt than he did with United.

And when the Erik ten Hag’s Red Devils finally managed to get Van de Beek off the books for good – he joined Girona over the summer – United would recoup only £400,000 of their £35 million investment.

So when Van de Beek’s deflected effort was ruled out by VAR for an offside in the build up, that felt rather fitting for a footballer who must have felt he could roll a dice a million times without landing on a six.

Manchester United flop Donny van de Beek scores Champions League goal

Fortunately, Van de Beek’s look would finally turn only minutes later.

There was to be no denying him this time. A first Girona goal – and a first for anyone since netting for Everton against Arsenal in May 2022 – was a finish reminiscent of happier times.

Van de Beek developed a reputation at Ajax for popping up in the penalty area before hitting the target. And he rolled back the years as a weaving run from Arnaut Danjuma saw the ball bounce into his path.

Van de Beek tapped in from close range to open his Girona account at the sixth time of asking. His jubilant celebration, meanwhile, looked very much like a man exorcising his demons after a spell with destroyed his confidence and his reputation.

Girona boss Michel was linked with Man United briefly after guiding the Catalan outfit to the Champions League for the very first time. Now looking to rebuild after a summer which saw a handful of star players depart, Michel is hoping that Van de Beek can be a man reborn at the Montilivi.

This was a massive step in the right direction, with Michel praising Van de Beek not for his goal but for the tactical understanding he displayed as Girona seized the initiative after half-time.

Girona boss explains what impressed him about Van de Beek

“ changed a little from what they were doing with the 4-3-3. They put four players in midfield, we let go too much with Donny and there was a man missing ,” Michel tells reporters at his post-match press conference.

“When we adjusted, I think we did quite well. We adjusted very well with Donny and Ivan against their midfielders. And then we were continuously dominating.

Despite Van de Beek’s best efforts, Feyenoord would not be denied.

A late own goal from Ladislav Krejci – Girona’s third in two Champions League outings – sealed the three points for the Dutch giants.

But after a difficult start to the campaign both for Girona and Van de Beek, Michel was keen to take the positives form a performance he now hopes can provide the foundation for a run of results.

“I’m not upset. On the contrary, the second half was spectacular,” Michel protests. “I can’t leave unhappy. The results don’t affect me at all. The result is anecdotal.

“I have nothing to criticise. The second half was very good. we did not even get a draw in a game that we dominated and in which we created enough to get a positive result.”

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