Manchester United Faces Challenges After Summer Transfer Activity
Manchester United's recent 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in their second Premier League Summer Series match last month was significant for Rasmus Hojlund, who expressed his commitment to remain with the club during a post-match interview with UK journalists in Chicago.
Unbeknownst to Hojlund at the time, this match could potentially mark the last start for him with United.
With a £74 million transfer for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko finalized on August 9, Hojlund played just 18 minutes in the final tour match against Everton.
Following that, he was an unused substitute in the match against Fiorentina at Old Trafford and has yet to participate in either of United's opening two Premier League fixtures this season.
Serie A champions Napoli are expected to renew their interest in the Danish forward this week, aiming to secure a deal that would allow Hojlund to fill the void left by the injured Romelu Lukaku, who is expected to be sidelined for four months due to a thigh injury.
United manager Ruben Amorim was unaware that his team would soon struggle to score goals in open play after the Bournemouth match.
The team managed a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, following an initial 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, resulting in United's only goal so far being an own goal by Rodrigo Muniz.
Since that evening in Chicago, United has played four matches, scoring a total of four goals, which include a penalty, two own goals, and a single effort from open play, with Mason Mount netting against Everton.
While United may regret not securing maximum points against Fulham, the focus has largely been on Bruno Fernandes missing a penalty by sending the ball high over the bar.
As Fulham manager Marco Silva pointedly noted, "In the second half, their best chances were set pieces, nothing more." This is likely not what Amorim anticipated after a summer expenditure of £200 million on players such as Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Sesko.
However, there are mitigating circumstances for United's current struggles.
Sesko has had only two weeks of training with his new teammates, who are still adjusting to a new style of play. The 22-year-old added 37 minutes off the bench against Fulham, following 25 minutes in the opening match against Arsenal. Amorim observed that Sesko's introduction came at a time when United was "not in their best moment."
According to Amorim, the team shifted focus to defending a lead rather than continuing to attack.
Cunha nearly scored a stunning goal in the first half, skillfully controlling a 70-yard pass from Altay Bayindir before attempting a shot that was expertly saved by Bernd Leno. He also struck the post after being set up by Mason Mount, showing promise in his early days at United.
Mbeumo similarly put in a strong performance, and had it not been for the exceptional pace of USA international Antonee Robinson, he might have had a clear chance at goal late in the match.
Currently, United's attack appears to consist of talented players still learning to work together rather than a cohesive unit.
Against Arsenal, their expected goals (xG) was 1.52, and against Fulham, it was 1.62. Despite a total of 32 shots across these two matches, their only goal came from a deflection off Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz.
Amorim, however, dismisses the idea that the goal-scoring issues that plagued United last season, resulting in just 44 league goals—their worst total since the 1973-74 relegation season—remain unresolved. He emphasizes that the transfer focus has shifted to strengthening the attack.
"I forget about last season," he stated. "As I said, we were more concerned about holding on to the result. We are going to score goals because we are creating so many chances. That is the important thing."
Amorim has frequently mentioned the advantages of not having a European campaign to contend with this season, allowing for midweek fixtures only in the EFL Cup, should United progress.
Nevertheless, time is of the essence. United must find a way to secure victories while Sesko acclimatizes to the Premier League and as Cunha and Mbeumo adjust to both him and each other.
After finishing last season in 15th place, they currently sit in 16th after two matches, with a visit from newly promoted Burnley on Saturday. A victory—preferably with contributions from the newcomers who scored 58 goals at their respective clubs last season—would alleviate some of the mounting concerns. Amorim is confident that improvements have been made, but tangible results are still awaited.
Bruno Fernandes' Penalty Woes
The scrutiny surrounding United's performance would not have been as intense had captain Bruno Fernandes converted a first-half penalty that could have given the visitors an early lead.
Instead, Fernandes missed the opportunity, sending the ball over the bar.
The penalty decision was contentious, with VAR official Darren England intervening to prompt referee Chris Kavanagh to review a challenge by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount, which led to Mount falling as a corner kick was taken.
Fulham's Marco Silva argued that the penalty should not have been awarded and claimed a foul had occurred in the build-up to United's goal.
Fernandes had placed the ball on the spot and was stepping back as part of his routine when Kavanagh inadvertently collided with him, disrupting his concentration.
On Sky Sports, former United players Gary Neville and Ashley Young suggested that the incident may have affected Fernandes' focus.
"I was upset," Fernandes admitted afterward. "As a penalty taker, you have your own routine and things you do. I was upset because the referee didn’t apologize. That is what triggered me in the moment. But it is not an excuse for missing the penalty. I had a bad hit on the ball. I got my foot under the ball and that is why it went over the bar."