Manchester United are finding some form under Ruben Amorim and even though the overall picture with results is not as pretty, the building blocks couldn’t be clearer.
Four wins, three defeats, and one draw in eight games is hardly form to write home about but outside of the loss at Arsenal, Man Utd have given a good account in every game.
The fixture list Amorim walked into has been unforgivable and after this game against Bournemouth on December 22, three of their next four opponents are Liverpool, Newcastle, and Arsenal.
Even Bournemouth have been flying this season and for United, have become somewhat of a bogey team.
The Cherries absolutely dismantled United at Old Trafford last season, with Erik ten Hag’s side losing 0-3 in a display that was, at the time, coined as the worst display by United under Ten Hag.
Bournemouth ended a Man Utd career in 0-3 win
For United, the whole of the 2023/24 season was a long-running nightmare where an open system was exposed repeatedly by opposing teams and the rest was taken care of by continuous injuries.
When Bournemouth visited Old Trafford on December 9, 2023, their manager, Andoni Iraola, had already started putting his initial stamps on a team that is flying today.
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It was seen as a potential banana skin for an ailing United but the way that game turned out was way beyond any Bournemouth fan’s wildest expectation.
Dominic Solanke, who coincidentally tortured United in Tottenham colours recently, opened the scoring within just five minutes, latching onto an errant pass by Bruno Fernandes in his own half.
United were toothless in attack and managed just three shots on target the whole game, the same amount as the number of goals United scored.
The players were soundly booed off at the full-time whistle as United distanced themselves further from the top-four but little did anyone involved know, a career had ended that day.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag pats Anthony Martial of Manchester United on the head after substituting him during the Premier League match...
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
In attack, Erik ten Hag started with Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, and Anthony Martial. The first sub made that day was in the 56th minute when Martial came off for Hojlund.
The fans loudly cheered the sub, summing up their frustration with the Frenchman who was completely ineffectual in this game. As fate would have it, that was the last time Martial suited up for United.
He sustained an injury afterwards and never played again for United, leaving in a whimper as the club ended the season with the FA Cup and he was reduced to clapping off the fans in a tracksuit.
Martial is impressing currently in Greece but December 9 will forever be the day his United career ended, with Bournemouth and Solanke’s sharp energy and endless running standing in stark contrast to the Frenchman whose best days were behind him.
A new beginning under Ruben Amorim
Martial’s departure saw Joshua Zirkzee arrive in the summer but he’s effectively an attacking midfielder in a striker’s body.
That was clear in pre-season, as Martial’s No. 9 jersey was inherited by Rasmus Hojlund, cheered when he came on on that fateful December 9 evening.
Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, speaks with Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester U...
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Hojlund has taken to life extremely well under Amorim, with the Man Utd manager managing his minutes with perfection and the striker repaying the trust shown in him with goalscoring displays.
He will undoubtedly start the game vs Bournemouth this time and the Cherries defence will have to work much harder than they had to when Martial led the line last time out.
Hojlund’s glimpses of potential in bursts of scoring veins have been clearly visible. He can kickstart his United career as the undisputed No. 9 of this team by helping them exorcise the demons of December 9, 2023.
It would be poetic.
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