Højlund’s Struggles
It was just weeks after Højlund’s self-inflicted media circus that United announced the signing of the Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško for £74 million from RB Leipzig and that the tournament-winning striker would be receiving a massive paycheck from United. With Šeško’s signing, Højlund’s position in the team became a huge question mark. Not only was he getting limited opportunities to play, but he was completely ignored in several matches for the team, only getting 18 minutes against Everton in the final preseason clash and getting completely ignored for matches against Fiorentina and the opening fixtures of the Premier League for this season.
With Romelu Lukaku facing a minimum four-month recovery for a thigh injury, Napoli is looking for a striker to fill the gap. At twenty-one, Højlund is a powerful yet unrefined forward, and while he is a gamble, he also presents opportunity. For United, his departure would still be a marking sign for the flood of new changes; people would see it as a shift towards a new phase, a fresh start, in attacking the persistent issue of instability in the offense. Check out more insights on SportFlashHQ.
Højlund’s Smokescreen
Manchester United seemed to be back to their normal self, winning comfortable matches just like the old days, this time overpowering Bournemouth 4-1 in their summer series match. **Sharpness**, **squad cohesion**, and **authority** seemed to be the new norm for Manchester United, but the board and the fans were still on edge after the chaotic 2023/24 campaign. Even so, I was still on the floor with excitement when I saw Rasmus Højlund defy the media on the UK outlets; he was ‘staying’ and ‘reinforcing’ at Old Trafford.
However, I doubt Højlund was aware that the match against Bournemouth would be the final one that he would be starting for United.
Amorim’s Goal Dilemma
I am sure that United’s manager Rúben Amorim, after a fulfilling summer, certainly did not anticipate the swift return of attacking problems his squads had to face. They started the season with a 1-0 loss to Arsenal and a 1-1 draw against Fulham, with the only goal scored coming from an own goal by Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz. To make it worse, United’s only other goals since that night in Chicago is a penalty and two own goals.
Bruno Fernandes‘s penalty miss at Craven Cottage added to the team’s frustrations. Silva was quite curt in his evaluation of the match:
“In the second half, their best chances were set pieces, nothing more.”
It is concerning and alarming for a club that spent around £200 million this summer with the addition of Šeško, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo to have such a lack of productivity.
Early Mitigations
To his credit, Amorim has reasons to show patience. Šeško has only had two weeks of training with his new teammates. Cunha and Mbeumo, while dynamic, are trying to blend in with the rhythm of English football and Amorim’s tactical demands. Forward chemistry is rarely built in a day.
So far, Šeško has only played cautiously for 25 minutes against Arsenal and 37 minutes against Fulham. Amorim noted that neither came at United’s “best moment.” When the Gunners were up 1-0, his team was deeply entrenched in the bank-with-a-lead defensive strategy.
Cunha’s flair was evident while he was at Inter Miami and recently at Fulham. We recall how responsive he was to Altay Bayındır’s 70-yard pass. His touch to control it was breathtaking and required sharp concentration. Bernd Leno was tested not long after. Later in the match, he nearly scored after Mason Mount’s clever through-ball, but he ended up striking the post. It seems like he is close to exploding onto the world stage with a stunning goal.
As always, Mbeumo was active and nearly tore through Fulham’s backline. It seems like only Antonee Robinson’s swift pace is holding him back. He is clearly developing the traits of a savvy pick and sharpen the team’s offense, but right now, United’s attack resembles a collection of solo performances instead of a concert.
By the Numbers: A Familiar Story
1.52 for Arsenal and 1.62 for Fulham: United’s Expected Goals (xG) against each team. They had two games, and after taking 32 shots, the return was just a single open-play goal—striking once in a two-game stretch is quite a feat.
We remember last season’s United woes, with a mere 44 goals in the league: the worst tally for the team since 1973-74 when they were relegated. No doubt, this haunted the fanbase throughout the summer, along with the lengths spending that was clearly just to rectify the issue.
For now, it seems like he is not panicking.
“I forget about last season,” said the Portuguese coach. “We are going to score goals because we are creating so many chances. That is the important thing.”
A Tactical Transition
What makes things worse is Amorim’s stylistic shift. The former Sporting CP boss has implemented a more fluid 3–4–3 system that features more aggressive wing-back verticals. This could be rewarding for players like Cunha and Mbeumo who thrive on space and dynamism. However, the adjustment period is clear for the time being. Movements are mistimed, link-ups are hesitant, and final passes are overcooked.
Amorim has often pointed out the upside–disadvantage for United not being part of European competition. With only domestic matches in mind, he believes the squad has enough time to tailor themselves around his philosophy. Nevertheless, the Premier League is ruthless. The cliché is true – time does not wait for anyone.
United placed 15th last season, and are now sitting 16th. With Burnley set to visit Old Trafford next, support patience could quickly fade without visible improvement.
The Historical Impact
The United’s past and recent-performance comparisons are unavoidable, primarily due to the lack of scoring. From Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole to Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides always had multiple options for scoring. In sharp contrast to last season, the club has not had a single 20-goal-per-season striker since 2019. Even Marcus Rashford has had to endure inconsistent form after a breakout season two years ago.
That answer was supposed to be Højlund, but now Shečk and Šeško are the two strikers in the running to replace him. While the 18 goals from the last season in the Bundesliga demonstrate his undeniable potential, it is crucial to remember that replicating that in England is all but guaranteed.
The Issues With Saber and Vargas
After the draw with Fulham, much of the SOC media rant was to do with Bruno’s missed penalty. This time, the circumstances were a bit different. He missed his usual pre-penalty ritual because referee for the day, Chris Kavanagh, accidentally nudged his shoulder. This prompted him to restart, and to add fuel to the fire, United legends Gary Neville and Ashley Young argued on Sky Sports that he overshot his focus.
Fernandes himself admitted frustration:
“As a penalty taker, you have your own routine. I was upset because the referee didn’t apologize. But it’s not an excuse – I had a bad hit. I got under the ball, and that’s why it went over.”
Missing the penalty epitomized Manchester United’s predicament: a mix of unfortunate luck intertwined with hesitance and half-baked plans.
Perspective from the Supporters
Within the fanbase, opinions have differed and mixed. Some are leaning towards patience, waiting for the bedding-in period while trusting Amorim’s new ideas. Others are less forgiving, pointing towards the £200 million spend and the club’s perennial problem missing in the final third for years. Some social media chatter has even revisited old transfer decisions – why was Garnacho given the burden of being a focal point, why not maintain seasoned depth in a veteran like Martial?
What Lies Ahead
The next few weeks are simultaneously an opportunity and a risk for Amorim. Wins against teams like Burnley can offer much-needed tactical calm and room for Manchester United’s gameplay to gel. Losses, however, would heighten the brand the focus on both his techniques and the prospects of players like Højlund.
In the broader context, the season for United could later be assessed on how their multi-million new signing performs on the frontline as opposed to their defensive focus, which has historically been a stronghold for them.
The metrics don’t lie. Šeško, Cunha, and Mbeumo hit a collective 58 goals in the previous season. United need to hope that they can hit at least a small portion of that figure in the Premier League.
But for now, the anticipation from the summer has morphed to the questions now surrounding Old Trafford. Will Šeško finally be the answer to the age-old Premier League question of whether he can handle the unforgiving intensity of the league, or will he be yet another emerging talent consumed by its void? Will Cunha and Mbeumo develop from exciting sparks to dependable match-winners, or will they fizzle out? And the most heartbreaking question, has Højlund’s United tale already ended before the real action has commenced?