Heading into the game, pressure was mounting on Erik ten Hag and his players to get back to winning ways after a number of poor results.

Ten Hag started Andre Onana in goal, with a defensive four of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Diogo Dalot ahead of the Cameroonian.

In midfield, Christian Eriksen started as United’s deepest-lying man with Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay alongside him in the middle of the park.

Rasmus Hojlund led the line with Antony and Alejandro Garnacho on either side. Here are three things we learned from Manchester United’s 1 – 0 win against Fulham.

Raphael Varane’s peculiar exclusion

In yet another game, Varane was left out.

Amidst suggestions of rifts in the background and dressing room unrest, it was reported that Varane is one of the players who may be unhappy with Ten Hag.

It was relayed that the Frenchman was not amused by the manager’s decision to leave him out of the game against Manchester City in favour of Evans and Maguire due to “tactical reasons.”

Varane did not feature vs. Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. United claimed that he was ill and that was the sole reason for his absence.

Conflicting reports relayed that the World Cup winner did not train and was not satisfied with his ongoing situation with respect to lack of game time despite being fit.

It was therefore surprising when the team sheet came out for the Fulham game and Varane was on the bench again.

It’s puzzling that Ten Hag gave the nod to Maguire and Evans once more despite Varane’s presence.

On more than one occasion across the 90 minutes, Maguire had to come off for treatment but even then, Ten Hag did not opt for Varane.

Not to say that Maguire and Evans have done anything particularly wrong when they’ve started together but few will disagree that Varane offers much more and is easily the better defender when in top shape and injury-free.

Varane only came on int the dying embers of the game for Garnacho, to ensure United got over the line.

United struggling to create enough clear-cut goalscoring opportunities

A noticeable theme of the game was just how much the Red Devils struggled to fashion enough goalscoring chances.

With the exception of McTominay’s disallowed goal in the opening 45 minutes, United barely created anything for the rest of the half – something that extended into the second period.

Most of United’s chances came about through trying long-distance efforts that frankly, didn’t trouble Bernd Leno who was mostly comfortable throughout the game.

Ten Hag’s men had a lot of possession but it’s disappointing they could not do much with the ball up until Fernandes grabbed the late winner.

United had Eriksen and Fernandes on the pitch, arguably two of the Premier League’s most creative midfielders but even then, chances were far between each other.

As has usually been the case, Hojlund cut a very frustrated and lonely figure up front. The Dane did not have much to pounce on.

He was visibly angry when substituted.

During the game, the away fans could be heard chanting “attack attack attack” in an apparent effort to get the players to speed things up.

United’s forwards have struggled to put the ball into the back of the net this term and while this has been down to poor finishing, another primary reason is that they’ve not been presented with enough opportunities to score.

This is something Ten Hag will undoubtedly be keen to sort out if he is to be successful in retaining his job as manager of the 20-time English champions.

Antony extremely poor again

Antony was easily United’s poorest performer against Fulham.

The Brazilian contributed next to nothing when he was on and it was hardly a shock that he was the first to be taken just minutes after the hour mark.

It has usually been said that Ten Hag’s continued selection of Antony and his favouritism for the player is one of the players’ major gripes with the Dutchman.

Consistently this season, Antony has failed to justify his inclusion in the starting XI and already, he appears to be another player United have wasted big money on.

Even Facundo Pellistri who only played a few minutes managed to do more than Antony did. The Uruguayan registered an assist for Fernandes’ goal.

It’s telling that when the 23-year-old came off, United fans cheered in response to the change made by Ten Hag.

There's a Brazilian winger on the pitch United could/should have signed: Willian in 2018.
United fans cheered as Antony was substituted. He has been abysmal again. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) November 4, 2023

If United are to be a successful team going forward, they can no longer rely on Antony – clearly a very limited and one-dimensional player not suited to playing at this level.

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It is a little ironic therefore that they chose superhero costumes as their Halloween fancy dress theme.

Some players have posted pictures of their costumes on Instagram.

Alejandro Garnacho and his wife Eva Garcia dressed up as the Incredibles, from the Pixar movie of the same name.

Meanwhile Facundo Pellistri joined in the fun with a brilliant Spiderman costume.

Casemiro donned a Batman outfit, while his wife Anna Mariana became a Red Devil, perhaps in a nod to the star’s loyalty to United despite recent reports claiming he had expressed regret at joining the club.

Life goes on and players are entitled to celebrate special events with their families.

However, fans will be keen to see the same players act like superheroes on the pitch rather than just in costume.

United’s worst start to a season since 1986/87 has turned the atmosphere sour at Old Trafford, with Erik ten Hag’s men being booed off the pitch after the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

For the first time, Ten Hag has come under scrutiny following some bizarre team selections and tactical changes befitting more a relegation-threatened side than one with aspirations of a top four finish.

The players have a chance to kickstart their season again tonight as they face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup, a repeat of last year’s final.

Home field advantage could help Ten Hag’s superheroes and a convincing victory would do wonders for the morale of players and fans alike.

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United are set to host City at Old Trafford on Sunday for the Manchester derby.

Ahead of the clash, Guardiola spoke to the press and indicated that Onana is one of the players his side needs to watch out for despite the Cameroonian’s hard start to life in England.

Guardiola reflected on Onana’s sensational performance for Inter Milan in last season’s Champions League final against City.

The Spanish coach said, “Hopefully not [Onana does not replicate his UCL final performance], hopefully we can beat him, but before the game, I always expect the best of the players we are going to face. I prefer to see what are their strengths than their weakness.”

“He saved a penalty in the last minute to help them stay in the race to qualify [for the #UCL knock-out stages] and it’s a good boost for them and for him.”

Guardiola opened up on the rivalry between City and United and explained that the Red Devils have always proved to be tough opponents irrespective of which manager is in the dugout.

He warned that United have the ability to turn it on at any time and instantly decide the game with spontaneous moments of brilliance.

The 52-year-old responded to Facundo Pellistri’s comments that in Manchester there are only people with United shirts and no one with City jerseys.

He said on this, “I will speak with the Puma department, and ask, ‘What happened? Why we don’t have shirts [in Manchester]?”

The City manager also confirmed that his side will participate in paying tribute to United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

Guardiola apologised for the few supporters who took part in offensive Sir Bobby chants and reiterated that those found culpable were indeed handed bans.

“They don’t represent us [the banned fans]. We have huge respect to Manchester United, we prove it. We have a lot of respect, especially for an iconic figure. Tomorrow we will be part of that.”

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United are set to host City at Old Trafford on Sunday in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes affair for both sides.

Erik ten Hag’s men are currently enjoying a three-match winning streak across all competitions and have the opportunity to make a real statement of intent by beating the Premier League champions.

City on the other hand will be eager to gain ground on table-leading Tottenham Hotspur, who are currently two points clear at the top.

Last season, United beat City at home courtesy of goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, to complete a sensational comeback.

Ten Hag will undoubtedly be hoping for the same.

Ahead of the game, Pellistri spoke to Carve Deportiva and took a cheeky swipe at City.

The Uruguayan said, “Manchester is United. You don’t see City jerseys or flags. Sometimes my girlfriend and I go out to try to find them and we don’t see any.”

“Everywhere you go, there are Manchester United jerseys. I’m struck that there aren’t as many City jerseys.”

Pellistri was one of the players who were tipped to leave United on a loan basis in the summer. However, a move never materialized and he stayed at the club.

This season, the winger has made six appearances for the 20-time English champions across all competitions.

He told Carve Deportiva that at United, no one is assured of a starting place and everyone has to fight for a chance to play.

The player remarked, “here there is a lot of rotation, you can play one match as a starter and four as a substitute. That’s something I learned. You always have to be ready, because with so much competitions, you will always have moments to play.”

The 21-year-old said about the derby, “I’m always so nervous before matches, it’s the adrenaline of the moment. The derby and even more so at Old Trafford, the atmosphere is going to be crazy.”

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Manchester United have suffered a turbulent start to the new campaign having lost more than half of their first 11 games.

Erik ten Hag is yet to find the formula in his second season in charge, regularly chopping and changing his first XI.

Facundo Pellistri has featured on five occasions on United’s right hand side – starting twice – in what he hopes will be his breakthrough season at Old Trafford.

The winger is currently on international duty, having broken into the Uruguayan side before he has really made his mark at United.

Pellistri is under the tutelage of enigmatic manager Marcelo Bielsa and, as reported by Sport Witness, is enjoying life under the former Leeds United boss.

Bielsa has given the young man the confidence to take on some of the world’s best with Pellistri praising his tactical approach.

“Bielsa’s strongest idea is intensity, pressing high, having the team very close together, so that from the outside you can see a compact team, eager to win and go to pressure and play as equals on any court and against any rival,” said Pellistri.

The first leg of Uruguay’s tricky double header against Colombia and Brazil started with a hard-earnt point last night, in Barranquilla.

Pellistri started the game but was substituted at half-time of the 2-2 draw, which was salvaged in stoppage-time by a Darwin Nunez penalty.

The 21-year-old is getting used to the conditions in South America which are a far cry from the weather he is used to in Manchester these days.

Pellistri is hoping for more minutes in the glamour game against Brazil next Wednesday and says he will be well prepared for the huge test.

“We have been here for days to get used to the heat, which will be the same on both sides. We have to be prepared, well hydrated and ready for what is coming,” he said.

The Uruguayan will be desperate for a good performance to take back to Old Trafford to show Ten Hag that he can handle the big occasion and gain more trust from the United boss.

United return to Premier League action with a trip to Sheffield United on the 21st October.

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Manager Erik ten Hag can point to the fact that the aforementioned reasons have robbed him of the chance to select his strongest XI so far this season.

While the defence has been devastated by injuries, Ten Hag has not had the luxury of picking his two strongest right-wingers due to different reasons.

Antony was accused of domestic violence and the club had stated that he would stay back in Brazil till investigations were ongoing. The Brazilian has since returned to the first team but the case is yet to be closed.

Jadon Sancho remains banished after refusing to apologise to the manager for publicly calling him out and accusing the Dutchman of making him a scapegoat while providing preferential treatment to Antony.

United’s woes on the right

The PFA and his England colleagues have all tried to change his stance but the 23-year-old remains steadfast and this could lead to an exit in January.

While both were unavailable, the United boss has tried to play a number of players in that position but none of them have been particularly successful.

He tried playing Scott McTominay there as part of a midfield diamond but the ploy backfired. The Scotsman has since shown his effectiveness while playing further forward.

Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount have played there and they did a decent job but it would be far better for the team if they played more centrally.

Ten Hag also played Facundo Pellistri there, with fans clamoring for his inclusion due to the fact that he was the only natural right-winger at the manager’s disposal.

The Uruguayan gave his all during his two starts in the Champions League and Premier League but it was clear to see that he remains a raw talent.

Against the top sides in a high-pressure environment, the 21-year-old can be found out and it is clear that he is still not ready for the big time.

Pellistri has already played six times this season, and while Ten Hag seems to like him for his hardworking and humble attitude, it is clear that he cannot do the job as a starter this season.

If the winger wants regular playing time, then a loan move could be the best option. As per Fichajes, La Liga side Sevilla are interested in a temporary deal in January.

Sevilla recently appointed former Uruguay national team manager Diego Alonso and he is a big fan of the United youngster as it was he who gave him his first chance for the national team.

Sevilla want Pellistri on loan

Despite his lack of club minutes, Alonso was a big advocate of Pellistri’s talents and a move to play under him in Spain would be a great choice.

“The arrival of Diego Alonso at Sevilla FC not only marks a change in the technical direction but also brings with it a request from the new coach for the next transfer market: Facundo Pellistri.

“Manchester United, aware of Pellistri’s need to obtain regularity, is willing to allow him to leave on loan during the next winter market. In this context, Sevilla FC appears to be an extremely attractive destination for the young striker.

“Pellistri and his agent are expected to explore options during the next winter market to have the minutes they need. Sevilla FC, under the direction of Diego Alonso, is emerging as the main candidate to acquire the services of the young Uruguayan.”

Regular game time at a big club competing in Europe would be a great chance for Pellistri but with Sancho’s future uncertain, it remains to be seen if Ten Hag allows the forward to leave in the winter.

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During United’s opening clash of Group A in the Champions League vs. Bayern, Ten Hag started Facundo Pellistri on the right flank amidst the respective absences of Jadon Sancho and Antony.

During his pre-match media obligations, Ten Hag informed reporters that he named the Uruguayan winger in his starting XI because he felt he could trouble Davies.

The United boss explained, “Today, I think tactically it fits very [well] because Davies is very offensive. He’s got a lot of speed, and Pellistri can match that. Davies is not a great defender and his dribbling, so yeah, a good game for it.”

Ten Hag was however forced to somewhat eat his words early into the game when Davies came up with a huge last-ditch tackle to deny Pellistri what seemed like a nailed-on goalscoring opportunity that could have given United the lead.

In truth, the defender kept the 21-year-old star quiet for large parts of the game as Bayen ran out 4-3 winners at the Allianz Arena.

Pellistri had little impact on the game.

Davies spoke to ESPN reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt (via Manchester Evening News) and refused to be drawn into speaking negatively about Ten Hag despite his criticism.

The Canadian remarked, “I think as a coach, he said it to motivate his players and I’m not sure what he saw but I’m not here to say he was wrong. I do have a lot of good defensive ability and I showed that during the game.”

“It was actually after the game that I saw the interview, but at the end of the day all that matters is I did my job on the pitch and we got the three points.”

The 22-year-old added, “It doesn’t really hype me, I just have to go out there and play my game. I don’t let criticism and what people say get to me.”

The Red Devils face Bayern again on December 12 for their final Champions League group-stage fixture.

At the moment, Ten Hag’s side sit bottom of Group A on zero points.

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There are reasons, of course, and they are not excuses. An unprecedented injury crisis, three wingers unavailable for off-pitch reasons and a lack of support from the club in the transfer market. But there are also areas where the boss himself has to hold his hands up and admit he got it wrong. Here are three we think are clear.

1. Amrabat must play in midfield.

Obviously the full back injury crisis at United leaves few options and Amrabat at left back is arguably better than any other option right now. But it comes at the expense of not having him in midfield, where he can be most effective and ease the burden on Casemiro, who has been struggling this season.

He is inverting from left back to create an extra man in midfield but it is not an ideal solution. Diogo Dalot is a competent left back and Victor Lindelof can play right back, so a Varane-Maguire or Varane-Evans centre-back partnership, while not ideal, could be a solution.

Another possibility is to play Casemiro at centre back, which in one sense defeats the object but in another allows for Amrabat’s extra energy and mobility to invigorate the midfield.

A third option would be to switch to three at the back and employ, say, Antony or Mount and Dalot as wing backs. Casemiro and Amrabat could then partner up in midfield with Bruno Fernandes ahead of them and Rashford, Hojlund and one other would form the cutting edge. Which brings us to …

2. Fernandes must play at number 8/10

Ten Hag’s efforts to adjust the side due to the injuries and accommodating the likes of Mount have sometimes resulted this season in Bruno being pushed out wide right. Again, as in the case of Amrabat at left back, he may have been the best option in the position at the time but it has come at the expense of not having him in the 8/10 where he is lethal.

There is sometimes a case for Bruno playing deeper but rarely for playing him wider. He needs to be the heartbeat of the United side and dictate play, which no-one can do from the wing.

3. Hannibal and Pellistri are not the answer

Social media is full of calls today for Hannibal to be brought back into the side because of the energy he brings. But as we reported here recently, despite those commendable and record-breaking displays of energy, there has been very little in terms of creative product from the Tunisian. As stated above, Bruno Fernandes is one of the best CAM’s in the world, he needs to be there. If he is unavailable, arguably it would even be worth giving Donny van de Beek another chance to reproduce the form he showed in that position at Ajax that left him a whisker away from joining Real Madrid.

Pellistri is a neat and tidy player but unfortunately, unless he develops late, his slight physique is going to make it very difficult for him to succeed in the Premier League. Now that Antony is back, he is likely to make way and frankly he could be going the Anthony Elanga route now after failing to seize his chance in the first team.

Energy and enthusiasm are in short supply right now so it is natural that the manager looks to young hopefuls who have bags of both. But if the quality is not there, ultimately this will be a hollow pursuit. Ten Hag must instead focus on instilling the same enthusiasm in his world class players rather than trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

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Despite trailing by a goal from the 25th minute onward, the home side only managed one sustained spell of pressure but for the most part, lacked urgency and intensity.

The defence has been criticised early on in the campaign, but injuries have played a major part in that. It is in attack where Erik ten Hag is being let down week in, week out.

Poor display from front three

United are the lowest goalscorers in the top ten in the league and all three of United’s forwards were poor against the Eagles.

Their passing stats were really poor with Facundo Pellistri registering only 80 percent, successfully completing only 20 passes.

Rasmus Hojlund hardly got involved, managing only 13 passes, and Marcus Rashford was the most disappointing of the lot with 79 percent.

Both wingers had 0 shots on target, a poor metric for a team enjoying most of the possession while as a whole, none of the three forwards managed to win a single aerial duel.

In terms of ground duels, United’s frontmen were second-best again, winning only 12, which meant a win rate of only 50 percent. The wingers won only 52 percent of their duels.

Out of a total of seven crosses attempted by the wingers, none were successful, yet another woeful return.

Changes required but does ETH have options?

Pellistri, who looks like he is physically not yet ready for the Premier League, lost possession 12 times while Rashford lost the ball 18 times.

The Mancunian is really struggling and Erik ten Hag will be forced to tweak things moving forward to get the desired results.

Maybe for the next Champions League game against Galatasaray, Alejandro Garnacho will play instead of the Englishman while hopefully, Antony will be back out on the right.

As for up front, Anthony Martial does not really inspire confidence and the raw Dane needs to produce the goods. But can he?

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It always seems to be one step forward and two steps back for United this season and the pressure will be mounting on manager Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman is having to deal with multiple injuries at the back but that is not where the problems lie currently. United have scored only seven times in the current campaign, the lowest in the top ten.

United’s limp attack

Despite 78 percent possession, the hosts managed only four shots on target and it is clear to see that the frontline is struggling.

The team hardly showed any urgency and after easily dispatching the same team in the Carabao Cup, the home side seemed to be quite happy to keep the ball instead of showing impetus.

Facundo Pellistri was poor once again, and every time he has started, he worked quite hard but looked very raw and physically not yet ready for this level.

The same goes for Rasmus Hojlund. He is a better target man than Anthony Martial but it is still not enough. How the manager must be wishing he had at least one more striker.

But the biggest disappointment has been the form of Marcus Rashford. The England winger’s decision-making has been poor and he continues to frustrate.

Rashford poor vs Palace

After a stunning season last time around, the Mancunian seems to have reverted to type and the manager might be forced to look at Alejandro Garnacho on the left moving forward.

Ten Hag hardly has attacking options on the bench and Antony’s return cannot come soon enough as the right wing has been a major issue since his absence.

It is turning into a full-blown crisis at the club and Ten Hag will be questioned for delaying his attacking substitutions for too long.

The team looks short on confidence and with a Champions League game to come next, things are looking quite dicey for the manager.

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