Manchester United's Struggles Continue: A 13th Defeat in a Desperate Campaign
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In a season plagued by poor performances, Manchester United suffered another setback as they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. With the scoreline against them, manager Ruben Amorim turned to the bench, bringing on Harry Maguire as a makeshift striker. The United captain almost netted a late equalizer, but his effort was denied by a goalline clearance from fellow defender Murillo.
The lack of attacking options was evident as Maguire registered more shots on target in his nine-minute cameo (one) than Joshua Zirkzee (zero) and Rasmus Hojlund (zero) had in 78 and 45 minutes, respectively. Amorim lamented the team's inability to produce the final pass or assist, blaming their lack of quality in the opposition's penalty area.
United's goalscoring troubles are evident, with the team having scored 37 goals in 30 league games, putting them on track to beat their lowest Premier League goals return of 49 set in 2015-16. However, the team's struggles go beyond scoring goals, with various metrics indicating a difficult season.
The Red Devils have 37 points after 30 games, meaning they have won 1.23 points per game this season. Their worst points return in the Premier League era is 58 (1.57 points per game), which they achieved in 2021-22 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. United must win seven of their remaining eight matches to match that tally. Their past seven victories came across 21 games.
United are 13th in the table, which would comfortably be their worst finish in the Premier League. They are eight points adrift of Fulham who currently occupy eighth position. The team has been leaking goals at an alarming rate, conceding 41 in 30 games. Given that United conceded a record 58 goals last season, it's unlikely that the class of 24-25 will beat that record. Their average this season means they are on target to finish with 52 goals conceded.
In terms of wins, United set a new low for wins in a Premier League season in 2021-22, with 16 victories under Solskjaer and Rangnick. With just 10 victories this campaign, United will need to win six of their final seven matches to avoid setting a new unwanted record. The team lost 14 games in 2023-24, a club record. With 13 defeats already this season and eight games left to play, it would require a remarkable upturn in form for Amorim to avoid finishing the campaign with more.
Source: BBC Sports Football
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