Manchester United’s frustrating start to the season continued with a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, prompting former Red Devil Gary Neville to express concern over the re-emergence of “old scars” within the team. The result leaves United with a meager seven wins in 29 matches under manager Ruben Amorim, a win percentage of just 24.1% – a figure eerily similar to that of Neil Warnock during his Premier League career.
The match saw a familiar pattern unfold for United. Rodrigo Muniz’s own goal gifted them an early lead in the second half, but their inability to maintain control and capitalize on opportunities allowed Fulham to fight back. Substitute Emile Smith Rowe leveled the score, highlighting United’s defensive vulnerabilities and midfield imbalances.
Adding to the woes, captain Bruno Fernandes missed his fifth penalty in the Premier League since his arrival in 2020, placing him alongside Mohamed Salah and Aleksandar Mitrovic as the players with the most missed spot-kicks in that period. This lack of clinical finishing proved costly, further compounding United’s struggles to secure victories.
Neville, analyzing the game on The Gary Neville Podcast, pinpointed the midfield as a key area of concern. He observed that the central pairing appeared exposed, leaving significant gaps that Fulham exploited effectively. “My optimism has been checked slightly because it felt like there were a couple of old scars reappearing and opening up,” Neville stated. “Those gaps, those acres of space, seem to open up, and I thought United got cut through quite a few times in the second half.”
The statistics paint a grim picture for United. Since the start of April, they have accumulated fewer points (six) than any other ever-present Premier League club. Remarkably, even Leicester City, now in the Championship, have managed to earn more points (eight) during the same timeframe. Fulham’s expected goals (xG) of 0.81 in the second half, compared to United’s 0.31, further underscored their dominance and United’s defensive fragility.
Neville also raised concerns about the form of goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, noting his apparent shakiness dealing with crosses from corners. He believes this anxiety could escalate if not addressed promptly. The veteran pundit emphasized the need for immediate midfield reinforcement, suggesting that the current pairing is consistently being overrun.
United were previously linked with a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, but the Seagulls’ hefty asking price of over £100 million proved to be a stumbling block. The club also brought on their new £73.7 million signing, Benjamin Sesko, but the young striker had a minimal impact, registering only one touch in the Fulham area and failing to attempt a shot.
Neville believes Sesko needs consistent playing time to adapt and reach his potential. He suggested that Amorim should utilize the upcoming EFL Cup tie against Grimsby to give Sesko a full 90 minutes on the pitch. “What you can’t do is let a player of that value, that potential, just keep being on the bench,” he argued.
The draw against Fulham serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Manchester United. Amorim faces a mounting pressure to address the team’s shortcomings, particularly in midfield, and to unlock the potential of new signings like Sesko. Neville’s warning about the resurfacing of “old scars” suggests that without significant improvements, United risk repeating past mistakes and falling further behind their rivals.
