Manchester United’s attempt to defend the FA Cup came to an end on Sunday after a 3-4 loss in a penalty shootout against Fulham at Old Trafford.
The cup tournaments were the only chance for the club to salvage their season after a disappointing performance in the Premier League, but they have now exited both domestic cup competitions.
The Europa League now stands as the final opportunity for silverware and to secure a spot in Europe for next season. It remains uncertain whether the team possesses the confidence to fully commit to that competition.
On Sunday, the visitors took the advantage just before the half-time whistle with Calvin Bassey scoring, as Noussair Mazraoui failed to mark his opponent inside the box during a set-piece.
Rasmus shocking as usual
The hosts leveled the game in the second half thanks to none other than Bruno Fernandes. Roy Keane’s criticism appeared unjustified, as the team captain demonstrated once more that he is the key player for this squad.
Nevertheless, penalty misses from Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee led to the Red Devils’ defeat, while Andre Onana seemed unable to make any crucial saves.
On yet another disappointing day, the sole bright spot was Chido Obi’s performance off the bench in the second half. Ruben Amorim once again gave Rasmus Hojlund a starting role, and as anticipated, the Dane did not perform well.
He appeared out of sorts in the forward position, and when he finally had a chance, he missed the target. The head coach made the right decision by substituting in the 17-year-old in the 68th minute.
The Carrington product made three attempts on goal after entering the match, with the Fulham goalkeeper making a vital save to deny the former Arsenal player during extra time.
Chido Obi was dynamite inside the box
Despite his youth, he appeared to have a clear understanding of how to manage the ball, play with his back to the goal, and demonstrated instincts akin to a fox in the box, skillfully creating opportunities.
Hojlund has rarely been able to accomplish all three aspects in a single match, and it seems just a matter of time before he’s replaced by Chido Obi in the starting lineup.
The academy talent once more convinced Amorim that he must begin to place his trust in Carrington amidst injuries and lack of form. For reasons unknown, the previous Sporting CP manager neglected to select a complete set of substitutes.
Even if he didn’t give a debut, it stands to reason that two additional academy outfield players could have been included on the bench. United appeared to be in dire straits during extra time and could have benefited from fresh legs.
Especially when considering Lindelof’s poor performance, as he struggled to make an impact since coming on. With his impending departure at the end of the season, certainly, an academy player would have exhibited more determination?