A typically brilliant travelling delegation left Craven Cottage with more questions than answers on Sunday evening as Manchester United stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Fulham.
If the Arsenal performance was a blueprint for Ruben Amorim to build upon, another limp London affair was an unsavoury reminder of the many issues within this football team.
Whether you focus on an uncharacteristically out-of-sorts Bruno Fernandes, the gaping holes in an often-maligned midfield or another 90 minutes in which a United attaker failed to put the ball in the net, all offer cause for concern.
However, on a morning when the social narrative attempts to circumnavigate the managerial team familiarly, what exactly did we learn from the latest Premier League outing against The Cottagers?
Back to the drawing board for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United?
“Six months ago, in my first three games in charge, with two victories and one draw, I said: ‘The storm is coming.’ Today, after this disaster season, I want to tell you: ‘The good days are coming.’
Who could forget that memorable Old Trafford address from a man who oozes character, charisma and swagger, following the most traumatic period of his managerial career?
A largely promising pre-season, which included the introduction of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, resulted in defeat on the opening weekend against Mikel Arteta, but produced a performance that supplied encouragement.
One week later, Amorim is again suffering the wrath of a disgruntled supporter base who have had enough of the lack of consistency at their football club.
When we unpack the latest trip to the capital, it is fair to point a concerned finger at the former Sporting man for what many deem to be poor decision-making and ill-advised in-game tactical alterations that offered ample opportunities to Marco Silva.
While the opening quarter presented a breathtaking display of attack-based football which eclipsed the aforementioned showing against Arsenal, the remainder of the contest saw indecision and midfield inadequacy, inevitably handing control to the hosts.
| Fulham | Manchester United | |
| Possession | 52% | 48% |
| Total shots | 13 | 10 |
| Big chances | 3 | 2 |
| Goalkeeper saves | 3 | 2 |
| Passes | 419 | 397 |
| Corner kicks | 9 | 6 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.76 | 1.63 |
As always, the figures never lie. United were outpassed and bullied by a well-constructed team that stuck to a predetermined game plan and exploited a midfield duo with Fernandes at its heart.
It is understandable why many would look to attribute the outcome to the 30-year-old, having skied his penalty effort before failing to track a dager run from Emile Smith Rowe for Fulham’s equaliser.
Fernandes is attempting to come to terms with a more withdrawn role in the side and has started four consecutive competitive fixtures with Casemiro featuring as his partner.
However, despite the glittering career and multiple honours shared by both, it was the marauding figure of Alex Iwobi that earned acclaim as the dominating figure on the day, routinely transitioning the ball from defence to attack with consummate ease.
Amorim did attempt to respond throughout the tie, and we ultimately witnessed two more variations, featuring Bruno and Mason Mount, before Manuel Ugarte arrived to partner his captain. But their hosts were well-prepared for a two-man midfield and continued to dictate matters.
Of course, had United converted one of the many early opportunities fashioned, the nature of this article would have presented an altogether different dynamic.
Make no mistake, the Reds were irresistible during the opening exchanges. Patrick Dorgu offered endless threat on the left, while the interplay and one-touch distribution of Mason Mount, Bruno, Mbeumo and Cunha carved through their opponents at will.
Much like his performance against Arsenal, Cunha was electric in attack and will have left London bemused at his inability to hit the back of the net on the day.
Mbeumo perhaps struggled at times to generate an effective threat, but it was his pinpoint set-piece delivery that led to the game’s opening goal.
Additionally, Mount was a standout once more, and his efforts are demanding a place in the starting XI, ultimately posing a good dilemma for his manager.
However, a lack of goals has proved costly in both fixtures, mirroring a campaign that returned 44 league finishes with an xG underperformance of just under nine ( 52.6 cumulative expected goals | 2024-25). With every passing outing, a lack of finishing will ultimately affect confidence within a camp that is desperate to excel for its manager.
| Performance v Fulham | Leny Yoro | Matthijs de Ligt |
| Clearances | 5 | 6 |
| Blocked shots | 0 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Total tackles | 2 | 1 |
| Dribbled past | 0 | 0 |
| Ground duels (won) | 2 (2) | 1 (1) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 3 (2) | 10 (6) |
| Passing accuracy | 38/43 (88%) | 37/39 (95%) |
In what will be a regular discussion throughout the season, the defensive duo of Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt excelled once more at the back.
Both are establishing themselves as key components of Amorim’s system, with defensive metrics befitting a team with continental aspirations.
At 19, Yoro has acclimatised to his English surroundings with a degree of ease that few believed possible. Not only does he impact the game with crucial goal-saving challenges, as he emphatically highlighted against Joshua King, but his attacking presence was crucial for the opening goal.
Two weeks after his 26th birthday, De Ligt continues to grow as a leader in a side crying out for multiple voices and marshalled his backline with a performance that deserved maximum points on the day.
Although frustration is the prominent word on Monday morning, there is ample hope for defensive assurance resonating through the continued growth of this duo.
As is common knowledge, consistently efficient performances will inevitably lead to victories, and despite retaining support through the majority of the fanbase, Amorim will know that improvement is required immediately.
Ironically, despite the feel-good factor heading into this campaign, his side sits one place worse than they finished last season, with 16 wins from 44 managerial outings highlighting a worrying scenario.
But, with extra time on the training field afforded because of a lack of European football, the 40-year-old tactician will strive for consistency ahead of a midweek trip to Grimsby Town for an EFL Cup outing, before the visit of Burnley on Saturday afternoon.
How are you feeling about Manchester United following a limp performance against Fulham, and how would you line up against Burnley?
Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images via depositphotos.com. Statistics available at sofascore.com
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