Manchester United dropped points again after playing a lacklustre goalless draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag changed the centre-back pairing with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans starting ahead of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.
It was a major surprise but the decision helped United salvage a point after a superb 7/10 performance from Evans.
The 36-year-old told Sky Sports after the game: “We had to make it tight today and not try to give them too much space and I think we did that well. We got a point against a good side away from home.
“The other night, conceding three we wanted to be more defensive-minded to give ourselves a chance. We were looking for that one moment of quality, maybe on the counter and we nearly got it.
“I still feel like I’m playing the game I always have, I still feel like I have speed in the legs to get me out of the bad moments. [Ten Hag] told me after the game the other night I’d play in this one.”
United allowed FC Porto to come back in the game after going 2-0 up in 20 minutes.
Porto made it 3-2 right after the half-time, leaving Ten Hag and his players stunned.
An injury-time strike from Harry Maguire helped United to rescue a point.
De Ligt and Martinez were terrible at the back. They failed to win duels and made basic errors which allowed the hosts to score goals.
Many expected Maguire to start ahead of De Light but benching Martinez was a surprise call.
Ten Hag telling Evans about his starting role for this clash shows that the manager was upset with his favourite centre-back duo.
