The Red Devils' most ineffective performers could be forced out of Old Trafford this summer unless they quickly start proving their worth
"I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard," Ruben Amorim told after seeing his Manchester United team suffer a miserable 1-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday. That result saw United hit a new 51-year low in the top flight as they dropped to 15th in the table. Worse still, there were no signs of the situation improving any time soon.
Amorim has been refreshingly honest about the standard of the squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag after leaving his comfort zone at Sporting CP back in November, but even he surely couldn't have imagined things would be bad barely three months into his reign. The players have so far failed to adapt to his preferred 3-4-3 system, and with each passing game relegation becomes a more realistic threat.
Some critics believe Amorim should shift away from his core beliefs to halt United's slide, but they are missing the bigger picture: It doesn't matter what formation he chooses with a team as rotten as this.
Positive change will only start taking effect at Old Trafford when Amorim is free to make his own signings this summer. To do that, sales will be needed first as part-owners INEOS strive to stay within the boundaries of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, and a select group of underperforming players will almost certainly be on the chopping block unless they buck their ideas up.
GOAL has run through the six United flops who will be playing for their futures between now and May, from the man failing as their last line of defence to the one floundering as the figurehead at the other end of the pitch…
AFPAndre Onana
Andre Onana is a complete liability. Most United fans gave the Cameroon international the benefit of the doubt after his dire debut season at Old Trafford, but now he has no hiding place.
United have dropped so many points because of Onana's mistakes. His positioning and handling are both poor, he doesn't command his box, and even his distribution is falling well below the required standard – which is truly unforgivable given he was initially signed from Inter on the strength of his reputation as an elite ball-playing goalkeeper.
The loss to Tottenham should be the final straw for Amorim. Onana's pathetic attempt to parry Lucas Bergvall's shot away from danger gifted James Maddison the winning goal, and now he must be dropped for No.2 shot-stopper Altay Bayindir, effective immediately. That kick up the proverbial backside may be exactly what Onana needs, and if he doesn't rise to the challenge, it would just confirm he was never cut out for the pressures of life at Old Trafford.
AdvertisementAFPAlejandro Garnacho
To Alejandro Garnacho's credit, he has at least been putting in a lot of effort for Amorim recently. Since being dropped from the squad for United's derby clash with Manchester City in December, the Argentine forward has shown real character to knuckle down and win back the coach's faith, and with Amad Diallo now sidelined for the foreseeable future, he's the biggest attacking threat remaining in Amorim's line up.
There is one major caveat to all of that though: Garnacho is still an awful finisher. According to , the 20-year-old's conversion rate is the lowest of any player to have 10 or more 'big chances' in the Premier League this season, as he's scored just two times out of 14.
He found himself through with just the goalkeeper to beat once again in the Tottenham game, only to somehow blaze the ball high into the stands when it seemed far easier to at least hit the target. Garnacho's attitude has improved, but his technique still leaves a lot to be desired and he lacks the composure United so desperately need in the final third. If that doesn't change, United will have little choice but to invite offers again this summer for an academy graduate who can generate pure profit on the balance sheet.
Getty Images SportDiogo Dalot
It's quite incredible that Diogo Dalot is into the seventh year of his career at United given his glaring limitations as a footballer. The Portugal international has survived largely because of his versatility, providing cover at full-back or wing-back on both sides, but he often stands out as the weakest link and has become an easy target for opposing teams.
Going forward, Dalot is wildly erratic; he tends to either take the wrong option or overhit his passes, much to the frustration of his team-mates. Dalot doesn't redeem himself defensively either, too as he is easily beaten in one-on-one duels and a consistent offender when it comes to letting his marker go.
That was the case once again in the build-up to Maddison's goal for Tottenham, as Dalot gave Son Heung-min far too much space to volley across the box. Dalot is still under contract until 2028, but the 25-year-old has shown almost no growth since his initial arrival at the club in 2018, and United would be wise to try and cash in at the next available opportunity.
Getty Images SportJoshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee has been unfairly disparaged by pundits and fans alike since his £36 million ($45m) summer move from Bologna. The Dutch forward has ability in spades; he can dribble past multiple defenders with ease and is a natural link-man who is capable of creating something out of nothing.
Zirkzee possesses the elegance and touch of Dimitar Berbatov and the imposing physique of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and at 23, he has plenty of potential still to unlock. But at the moment, it feels like he is not suited to the intensity of the Premier League.
The slower pace of Serie A brought the best out of Zirkzee, but he's struggled with not being afforded the same time and space in England's top division. Seven goal involvements in 37 appearances is a woeful record for a player with his abilities, and Amorim may decide to move Zirkzee on if he doesn't prove he can make a more decisive impact over the next four months.