Manchester United’s struggles in the Premier League have been compounded by glaring goalkeeping errors, with Andre Onana accused of making “Under-12 mistakes.”
Ruben Amorim’s tenure as manager has started on shaky ground, with United securing only seven points in six league matches.
Their latest setback came on Boxing Day, as Wolves secured victory, with Matheus Cunha scoring directly from a corner – the second such incident in three games involving Manchester United goalkeepers.
Onana’s failure to stop Cunha’s effort mirrored a similar error by Altay Bayindir, who conceded a direct corner against Tottenham during their Carabao Cup loss.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton didn’t hold back, labeling these errors as “Under-12 stuff” and criticizing their impact on Amorim’s efforts to stabilize the team.
Manchester United face another daunting challenge on Monday as they host an in-form Newcastle United. While United are desperate to end their losing streak, Newcastle enter the game on a high, winning their last four matches with a stunning 14-1 aggregate score.
Sutton predicts further misery for United, backing Newcastle to claim another victory at Old Trafford.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Sutton said, “Newcastle have hit their stride, and the way they’re playing, they should win at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s form is the complete opposite. Amorim has his work cut out, but it doesn’t help when your goalkeepers are conceding goals straight from corners – that’s schoolboy stuff.”
Sutton also expressed regret over previously predicting a draw for Manchester United, admitting, “I’ve been too kind to them. Their fans give me grief on social media, but I need to stop softening my predictions. This team is rubbish right now.”
Amorim, meanwhile, downplayed the focus on set-piece failures following the Wolves defeat, stating, “After a loss, I don’t want to dwell on that, but every corner feels like an opportunity for the opposition. We need to adapt and do the same to our opponents.”
When asked if the team needed taller players to combat their set-piece vulnerabilities, Amorim dismissed the notion, saying, “It’s not about bigger players.
If set-pieces are this crucial, we just need to learn how to maximize them, even with smaller players. We must adapt and use the rules to our advantage.”
For now, Manchester United remain in turmoil, and unless Amorim can reverse their fortunes quickly, the pressure at Old Trafford will only intensify.