Manchester United fans were left furious after their side suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Manchester City, with many calling for immediate changes to the starting lineup. Supporters have directed particular anger at two players, demanding they be dropped following what they described as an unacceptable display.
It was a nightmare outing for United under head coach Ruben Amorim, whose men were second-best from the opening whistle. Manchester City wasted little time asserting dominance, taking the lead early on through Phil Foden. The defending champions then tightened their grip on the game when star striker Erling Haaland doubled City’s advantage, before later adding another to seal the emphatic win. Haaland’s first goal came courtesy of a glaring mistake by United’s defense, and his second highlighted the lack of composure at the back, leaving United supporters seething.
The most damaging moment arrived when Luke Shaw, under little pressure, carelessly gave away possession with a sloppy pass. The ball rolled straight into Haaland’s path, and the Norwegian striker wasted no time in racing forward before coolly slotting home for his second of the afternoon. That error summed up United’s disjointed and fragile performance, and Shaw soon became the focus of widespread online criticism.
United’s attack offered little resistance in response. Their only notable opportunity fell to Bryan Mbeumo, who unleashed a powerful effort that tested City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, the Italian stood firm, and the chance faded without sparking any real momentum for Amorim’s side. Aside from that brief moment, United’s attacking play lacked imagination and penetration, leaving their forwards isolated and frustrated.
In a bid to turn things around, Amorim turned to his bench, but the substitutions only seemed to make the situation worse. Instead of sparking improvement, the changes left United even more disorganized, and City were able to exploit the gaps with ease. By the final stages, Pep Guardiola’s men were in complete control, slicing through United’s defense at will. City wasted several chances to add to their tally, while United could only watch and hope the damage did not get even heavier.
Patrick Dorgu came close to salvaging some pride with a late header, but his effort drifted wide, ensuring United ended the day empty-handed. After the final whistle, fans took to social media in droves to vent their frustration. Many singled out Manuel Ugarte and Luke Shaw as the biggest culprits. One angry supporter branded both players “an embarrassment,” while another questioned why Amorim continued to select Ugarte. Shaw, meanwhile, was accused of offering little more than a left-footed option, with one fan declaring, “He’s been horrific.”
There were also strong calls for teenager Kobbie Mainoo to be given a chance. Even before he replaced Noussair Mazraoui late in the match, fans online were demanding his introduction, claiming they had “seen enough” of Ugarte. The backlash reflected the growing impatience among United’s fanbase, who expect much higher standards in games of such magnitude.
