MU's attack from 'reform' to 'disillusionment'

MU's attack is playing very badly.

When Ruben Amorim took over as Manchester United manager in November, hopes of a major overhaul were raised. However, what has happened on the pitch so far has left the Red Devils fans even more disappointed.

One of the biggest problems this team is facing is a weak attack, and the name that is being criticized the most is striker Rasmus Hojlund.

From hope to disappointment

Since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have struggled to find consistent form. Despite having talented attacking stars, the team has struggled to score goals.

The 0-1 defeat to Wolves in the 33rd round of the Premier League on April 20 was the 8th home defeat this season, a terrible record that the club does not want to be included in. This is even more worrying when Manchester United has only scored 38 goals in 33 matches in the Premier League this season, much lower than the teams in the middle of the table.

The 2024/25 season has been a nightmare for Manchester United, and there is no denying that the biggest reason lies in the ability to score goals. The team's strikers have missed too many good chances, notably Rasmus Hojlund, the expensive contract worth 72 million pounds, expected to be a "killer" in attack.

Hojlund was a name that Manchester United had high hopes for when they signed him from Atalanta. With his impressive height and good mobility, Hojlund was expected to be the perfect replacement for the old stars. However, so far, the Danish striker has not been able to meet those expectations.

Despite some impressive performances early in the season, notably a run of five goals in four games under Amorim, Hojlund has struggled to maintain consistency. One of his most obvious weaknesses is his lack of confidence in decisive situations.

Hojlund is disappointing at MU.

The Wolves game was a prime example, with Hojlund failing to capitalise on a perfectly placed pass from Alejandro Garnacho, who was just a metre from goal. Former England striker Alan Shearer was not shy about criticising Hojlund's performance on Match of the Day 2 .

"I see a player who is hurting. Hojlund is not ready to shoulder the responsibility of leading the attack at Manchester United. He lacks confidence and does not show the necessary decisiveness," said Shearer.

These comments are not unreasonable when looking at Hojlund's lack of sharpness in scoring. The chances he missed in important matches made the expectations for himself even more disappointing.

Amorim and the problem of the attack

Despite Hojlund's immense pressure, Amorim insists that the problem is not just the striker's. "We can't blame one player," the Portuguese coach said. "It's a problem for the whole team, not just Hojlund. We need to improve the goalscoring ability of all the players, not just one."

The truth is that Manchester United have had no shortage of chances in the games, but missing too many clear-cut chances has clearly had a huge impact on the final result. Excluding the bottom three clubs, only Everton and West Ham have scored fewer goals than United, and this is unacceptable for a big club like Manchester United. Not only Hojlund, but also stars like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have failed to show their mettle in decisive situations.

Amorim will need new players for MU's attack.

With the Premier League all but gone, Manchester United have one way to salvage their season: the Europa League. This is their last chance to win a major trophy and ease the pressure on manager Amorim.

Their semi-final opponents will be Athletic Bilbao, a team with a rich tradition and not easy to beat. A victory in this arena will help MU have some joy, at the same time saving a failed season.

However, progressing in the Europa League will require a major change in the team's style of play. Amorim needs to find a way to help his players regain confidence and improve their goalscoring ability. In addition, the inability to maintain consistency throughout the season will be a problem for him in rebuilding a strong and balanced squad.

Although this season has almost ended with consecutive defeats, it is important for Manchester United to find a way to lift the team's spirit. They cannot continue to lose at home, and they cannot continue to play without scoring goals. The future of the "Red Devils" depends very much on finding a way out of this crisis.

Amorim doesn’t have much time to find out. The Europa League games will be United’s last chance to regain confidence and reassert their position in Europe. Otherwise, this season will be a total failure for a team that has always aimed high.

Source: https://znews.vn/hang-cong-mu-tu-cai-cach-den-vo-mong-post1547533.html