Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage, a much-needed boost amid their turbulent Premier League campaign.
Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike in the 78th minute was enough to secure the win, though the match itself was far from a display of top-tier football.
United’s form has been inconsistent, with recent improvements marked by back-to-back wins, including a 2-1 Europa League triumph over Rangers.
However, questions loom large over the performance of key players, particularly Rasmus Hojlund. The £70m striker, brought in from Atalanta in 2023, has struggled to find his footing, scoring just two league goals this season.
Against Fulham, Hojlund’s inefficiency was glaring. Dispossessed ten times in the first half, the Danish forward failed to hold up play or create opportunities, prompting sharp criticism from club legend Rio Ferdinand.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Ferdinand highlighted Hojlund’s inability to maintain possession or use his pace effectively, pointing out that his turnovers hindered United’s attempts to build pressure in the final third.
Despite Hojlund’s struggles, manager Ruben Amorim found solace in the result, emphasizing the psychological boost of securing three points.
“Winning is vital for our confidence,” he told BBC Sport. “The performance wasn’t great, but the victory helps us improve.” Amorim, however, acknowledged the team’s need for significant progress to align with his vision of a new playing style.
Meanwhile, Fulham manager Marco Silva lamented his side’s missed chances. “We dominated large portions of the game and created opportunities, but our finishing let us down,” he said. Silva’s frustration was evident as Fulham failed to capitalize on their superior possession and ultimately conceded through a deflected effort.
The victory sees Manchester United climb to 12th place in the league, while Fulham remain 10th. As both teams look to regroup, the focus will undoubtedly be on addressing their respective shortcomings ahead of the next fixtures.