Manchester United have had a slow start to the Premier League season, failing to win the two opening games.
All the pre-season positivity at Manchester United has begun to subside after a disappointing start to the season.
A loss at home to Arsenal was followed by a 1-1 draw away to Fulham, leaving Ruben Amorim’s men in a scarily familiar 16th place in the table.
Here is a look at five problems Amorim has to try and solve…
Matheus Cunha holds his face as Manchester United face Fulham.
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
United are not being ruthless enough
Manchester United should have put this game to bed in the first half. The team began well, hitting the post early on from a Matheus Cunha shot.
Cunha should have scored later in the half when he was put through on goal. His shot was well saved, but ultimately it was not good enough.
Bruno Fernandes had a rare miss from the penalty spot, and he has himself to blame for this for losing focus when he was bumped by the referee.
United’s second half goal had to come via an own goal, but one goal was never going to be enough.
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Late on amid a frantic desire to win the game, Harry Maguire headed wide when he should have scored.
Benjamin Sesko in Man Utd shirt
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Get Benjamin Sesko firing
Manchester United now need to get £66 million striker Benjamin Sesko properly integrated into the team.
Sesko came off the bench against Fulham and struggled to get involved, failing to attempt a single shot at goal. United clearly need to do better to create for Sesko.
He should start in the cup against Grimsby and then potentially against Burnley next weekend. That could help him get into a better rhythm, and when he gets a chance, he needs to display the ruthlessness his teammates have lacked.
Midfield lacks control
Manchester United’s midfield was a mess in the second half against Fulham. After going 1-0 up, United failed to create chances and lost control of the game.
Bruno Fernandes was poor, yet stayed on for all 90 minutes while Kobbie Mainoo failed to get a kick again.
Amorim’s substitutions lacked conviction, inviting pressure by bringing on Manuel Ugarte, a more defensive approach that was unable to prevent the team conceding an equaliser.
Mainoo should get an opportunity in midweek, he is the player fans are calling out for. Even so, the team’s best midfield two remains unclear. This will be a problem that could last all season.
Corner kicks are an ordeal
Quite how United did not concede a goal from a corner against Fulham is a mystery. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is just not strong enough.
Time and time again he was left flapping, nudged out of position, causing panic with United defenders left scrambling.
United are set to address the goalkeeper position with a move for Belgian stopper Senne Lammens.
But what that means in the short-term is unclear. Andre Onana had been expected to reclaim his spot against Fulham, and was left out again.
Impatience to improve
Manchester United are now already fighting an uphill battle in 2025/26, and impatience for results could begin to count against Ruben Amorim.
Next week should be a home win against Burnley, although we have learned with United that nothing is guaranteed.
A win does little in the short-term, it would move us to four points gained out of a possible nine, a poor return that could keep us in the bottom half of the table.
And with fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea next month, with a match against Brentford too, there is little prospect of a winning streak to come.
Beating Fulham was vital, and United blew it. It’s probable Amorim’s United are not in the top half of the table at the end of September. That sounds gloomy, but it’s likely to be the reality, and more pressure will follow.
A mood-changing away win at City in September could be essential to turning everything around, but looks a tall order unless the players can be more ruthless.