On the day co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe labeled Manchester United “mediocre” in an interview with the popular club fanzine ‘United We Stand’, the team unfortunately lived up to this assessment with their on-pitch performance. Nottingham Forest’s victory at Old Trafford was not a surprise given their higher position in the table. However, it was a significant achievement for Forest as they had not won at Old Trafford in almost 30 years. The club’s ambitions are lofty, aiming to win the Premier League and compete strongly in the Champions League, but their recent results suggest otherwise.

Manager's Perspective

When asked about his first few weeks as United manager, Amorim dismissed the negative perceptions. He pointed out that he had faced similar challenges at Sporting. After taking charge in 2020, Sporting won six out of 11 games and drew three. Their two defeats came in the final three games of a campaign interrupted by Covid-19. Amorim believes they need to continue doing the same things and improve the team.About 20 minutes before addressing the media, United sporting director Dan Ashworth walked through the press conference room. His actions showed the difficult situation the club is in. The squad is clearly not good enough, as evidenced by their defensive errors against Forest.

Goalkeeping Mishaps

Andre Onana’s error in the second half was a crucial moment. He started to move to his right but was unable to shift his weight quickly enough when the ball went in the opposite direction. Morgan Gibbs-White expected Onana to save the shot, but he was beaten. This error was compounded by other defensive lapses. After conceding from a corner, neither Onana nor Matthijs de Ligt could deal with Chris Wood’s header. These mistakes cost United dearly.

Transfer Woes

Under two managers and an interim, United have had their worst start after 15 games since 1986-87. They have a tough schedule ahead with a visit to Manchester City next weekend and a pre-Christmas meeting with in-form Bournemouth. The transfer window presents an opportunity for solutions, but the club is in Profit and Sustainability strife. Brazilian wide-man Antony, the second most expensive player in the club’s history at £81.3m, did not make the squad for this game. If United can sell him, it will be a significant financial gain.Amorim must find a way to instill a new playing style and win some matches. He understands the challenges but remains committed to the club. “It will be a long journey, but we want to win because this is a massive club,” he said. “We understand the context but we have to keep doing the same things.”