Manchester United suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Fulham, leaving many fans frustrated, particularly with one tactical decision made by manager Erik ten Hag.
The loss came after a string of four consecutive Premier League victories for United, with a significant announcement preceding the match: the acquisition of a minority share in the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a key figure from INEOS, with his ally Sir Dave Brailsford present in the directors’ box.
Despite high hopes, United found themselves trailing 1-0 on 65 minutes following Calvin Bassey’s goal. Harry Maguire’s late equalizer in the 89th minute briefly ignited hope for a comeback, only to be dashed by Alex Iwobi’s stoppage-time winner for Fulham.
Amidst criticism of United’s overall performance, fans also questioned one of Ten Hag’s substitutions. In the 80th minute, he opted to replace midfielder Kobbie Mainoo with Amad Diallo to bolster the attacking force.
This decision raised eyebrows, especially considering Casemiro’s earlier injury-enforced substitution.
On social media, fans expressed their dissatisfaction, with some suggesting that Bruno Fernandes could have been substituted instead. Others highlighted Mainoo’s importance in midfield and questioned the timing of his substitution, particularly given his recent match-winning contributions.
While there were supporters who understood Ten Hag’s rotation policy to manage Mainoo’s workload, many believed he should have remained on the pitch for the entirety of the match against Fulham.
