This season has not unfolded as anticipated for Manchester United, culminating in yet another disheartening defeat, this time to Fulham in the FA Cup.
The Red Devils were eliminated after a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw in regular time. Andre Onana was unable to save any penalties, while Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee both failed to convert their attempts.
Since taking over from Erik Ten Hag earlier this season, Ruben Amorim has experienced ten losses in 24 matches, with the Europa League now representing the sole opportunity for him to secure a trophy and avoid a winless inaugural campaign.
As club icon Wayne Rooney noted in the accompanying clip, this result against Fulham was particularly disappointing, given the chance to advance.
As the season comes under scrutiny, accountability will be sought, particularly regarding the recruitment department’s decisions.
United permitted several players to depart from Old Trafford, and one player they may now regret letting go is central midfielder Scott McTominay.
Scott McTominay’s form since leaving Man Utd
The Scotland international transitioned to Serie A and has since made a significant impact, drawing attention while playing for Antonio Conte’s team in Italy this season.
McTominay has scored six goals from an expected goals (xG) total of 5.16 across 24 matches in the Italian top division. Additionally, he has created two ‘big chances’ and provided two assists for his squad.
In contrast, Bruno Fernandes (six) stands as the sole central midfielder for Manchester United who has netted more than one goal in the Premier League, and he is also the only one to have recorded more than one assist (two).
This indicates that the Red Devils are in need of another midfielder, alongside Bruno, who can contribute goals from the midfield, similar to McTominay’s performance for Napoli this season.
The challenges faced by the Scottish player when not in possession continue to be a concern. He has recorded a loss in 52% of his duels and has managed an average of only 1.3 tackles per game, whereas five central midfielders from United have surpassed this average in the Premier League.
Consequently, while there are both strengths and weaknesses in his performances, the team could have greatly benefited from an additional player capable of scoring against Fulham, especially given that they managed only one goal in 120 minutes at home.
Permitting the academy graduate from the midfield to depart from Old Trafford is not the sole recruitment error the club has committed in recent years; they may also come to regret the decision to let long-serving goalkeeper David De Gea leave without any compensation even more.
David De Gea’s improved form
The Spanish goalkeeper was released on a free transfer during the summer of 2023 following a disappointing final season in the Premier League with Manchester United.
It is evident that the seasoned player did not perform at his usual level that year. De Gea concluded the top-flight season with a negative goal prevention statistic of -1.55 and committed three errors that resulted in shots or goals across 38 league appearances.
This indicates that he allowed more goals than would typically be anticipated based on the quality of the shots he faced, in addition to making an excessive number of unforced mistakes.
After taking a year off from professional football in the 2023/24 season, De Gea signed with the Italian club Fiorentina the following summer, where he has since excelled in Serie A.
| David De Gea | 22/23 Premier League | 24/25 Serie A |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 38 | 24 |
| Save percentage | 70% | 73% |
| Penalties saved | 1/3 | 2/3 |
| Goals prevented | -1.55 | +0.06 |
| Pass accuracy | 68% | 69% |
| Error led to shot | 1 | 0 |
| Error led to goal | 2 | 0 |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
The table above illustrates that the 34-year-old giant has exhibited significantly superior performance in the Italian top division this season compared to his final year at United.
Consequently, the Red Devils may come to regret permitting De Gea, who was previously described as “phenomenal” by Rio Ferdinand, to depart without any compensation in 2023, especially when contrasting his current form with that of Onana.
Why Man United should regret releasing De Gea
United secured the signing of the Cameroon international from Inter in preparation for the 2023/24 season. It is accurate to state that the goalkeeper has encountered a number of challenges during his 18 months at Old Trafford thus far.
During the previous Premier League season, Onana committed one error that resulted in a goal and another that led to a shot, while in the Champions League, he made two mistakes that caused goals and two that resulted in shots.
In contrast, De Gea made two errors leading to goals in his last Premier League season with the club; however, he appears to have rectified those issues, as evidenced by his performance with Fiorentina.
Rather than parting ways with him at the first indication of difficulty, United might have chosen to retain the veteran and placed their trust in his ability to regain his form, which he has successfully achieved in Italy.
| Andre Onana (24/25) | Premier League | Europa League |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 27 | 6 |
| Goals prevented | -0.12 | -0.01 |
| Error led to shot | 1 | 0 |
| Error led to goal | 3 | 1 |
| Save percentage | 65% | 68% |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
The data presented in the table above indicates that the 28-year-old goalkeeper has not met expectations regarding the number of shots faced, and he has also exhibited a concerning tendency for errors in both the Premier League and the Europa League.
These figures imply that allowing De Gea to depart without compensation may have been a miscalculation, particularly as the player brought in to succeed him is currently being outperformed by the experienced Spaniard, who is enjoying an impressive run with Fiorentina.
Consequently, permitting De Gea to leave without a transfer fee represents an even greater error than the decision to sell McTominay, as his present performance indicates he would significantly enhance the team compared to Onana, while the Scottish midfielder continues to face challenges in areas where other United players excel.