Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has demanded an improved performance from his team, after their winless start to the new season continued with a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.
The Red Devils were narrowly defeated in their 2025/26 opener by Arsenal last week and failed to grab maximum points at Craven Cottage in their second game of the season with another underwhelming result.
Despite coming into the season with much promise after an impressive preseason tour of the United States, the team has come under scrutiny with their tally of a single point in two matches.
“I think we scored the goal and then we forgot about how we play. We have to grow up a lot as a team”, Amorim said after the match.
“The moment that changed the game was our goal. We want to win so badly, and that is a good feeling, that we scored a goal and everyone on the pitch was thinking, ‘Let’s hold on to the advantage and try to win the game.’
Man United dominated the early exchanges and were awarded a penalty in the first half, after VAR adjudged Calvin Bassey to have fouled Mason Mount after a corner kick.
Captain Bruno Fernandes accidentally collided with center referee Chris Kavanagh while preparing to take the spot kick, before blazing over from 12 yards.
However, the visitors took the lead when a header from Leny Yoro was deflected into his own net by Rodrigo Muniz, before Fulham equalized later in the game through substitute Emile Smith-Rowe.
“For me, that is the moment that we have to enjoy more and push the opponent,” he said. “We tried to press the opponent super high and left a lot of space.
“You need to win to have the feeling to relax a little bit, not in the intensity and the way we play, but maintaining our mind.
We suffer a little bit in the end because the momentum changed more with the goal of Fulham,” the coach added. “In the first half we were there — we missed a penalty. Fernandes has so much responsibility with him that I felt the lack of joy [when he missed]. And he was thinking in the past. Now, we have to move forward no matter what happens”, the Portuguese continued.
The Red Devils travel to League Two side Grimsby Town on Wednesday for a Carabao Cup second round tie, before hosting newly-promoted Burnley next Saturday in search of their first league win of the season.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
