Porto FC head coach Vitor Bruno has invited Erik ten Hag to have a glass of wine after Thursday’s Europa League meeting, as he offered his understanding to a fellow head coach under scrutiny.

Ten Hag’s position as United boss came under further pressure after a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, his side’s second such successive Premier League defeat at Old Trafford following September’s defeat to Liverpool.

Bruno, meanwhile, was the subject of messages written in black ink on the walls outside the Dragao Stadium on Tuesday calling for his dismissal and the return of former manager Sergio Conceicao. Porto’s newly elected president Andre Villas-Boas promoted Bruno from assistant to head coach this summer following the departure of long-serving Conceicao.

“Me too (under scrutiny),” Bruno interjected. “That’s everyone.”

Asked if he had any sympathy for the United manager, Bruno said: “I don’t know him, I haven’t met him yet, but I would like to. There is a coach in Portugal called Carlos Carvalhal, now he is in Braga. He worked in the Premier League and the Championship (with Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City). He said that at the end of the match they will have a glass of wine together.

“If Ten Hag wants tomorrow, the dressing room is open for him. Much respect. It’s our life. Mine too.

“I don’t know if you know all the news in Portugal, but as soon as you lose one match, you are almost dead.”

Porto hosts United at the Dragao Stadium on Thursday in the second round of the ‘competition phase’ of the Europa League. Both teams are looking for their first win in the competition after United drew 1-1 with FC Twente at Old Trafford last week, while Porto lost 3-2 to 10-man Bodo/Glimt.

Despite winning just two of the last seven in all competitions, Bruno has insisted Manchester United are always a ‘threat’.

Asked if this is the best time to play United, Bruno said: “Exactly the opposite. We always see them as a threat, not as a good point to tackle them. We just have to be ourselves and look at them with respect, a lot of respect, a lot of individuals, also performing as a team… I know what you mean when you talk about their last match, but we have to see the old (results and performances), not (only) this one.”

A win for both sides in the new Europa League competition could be crucial to progress to the knockout stages.

GO DEEPER

What United can expect from Porto: Intense press and direct attacks

(Miguel Riopa/AFP via Getty Images)