According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United drew with Fulham, with goalkeeper Onana making several crucial saves, but the team's defensive problems remained glaringly obvious.

By the end of the first half, Onana could breathe a sigh of relief. He had made four saves before the break, and Manchester United had gifted Fulham far too many chances. The fact that they went into halftime level was largely thanks to the Belgian international goalkeeper.

Among them, Onana's save from Josh King's shot was the most brilliant. King easily got past Luke Shaw, drove forward to create space for a shot, and the ball appeared to be heading for the bottom left corner, but Onana made a De Gea-style save with his feet.

Onana was quickly congratulated by his teammates. After several matches at the start of this season, some fans had questioned his ability, but he kept Manchester United in the game against Fulham, making such doubts seem unfounded, according to Manchester Evening News.

This was Onana's first appearance at Craven Cottage. Last season, when Manchester United played away against Fulham, he was still playing for Inter Milan. That match saw Bayindir start in goal, with Onana on the bench before he left the club.

Manchester Evening News believes that had Bayindir or Onana's predecessor been in goal, the result for Manchester United might have been decided by halftime. They would have struggled to replicate Onana's four saves and help the team withstand the pressure.

Manchester United's defence has been problematic all season, and Fulham repeatedly penetrated dangerous areas. Carrick acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that the team's defence "needs to improve," but did not explain why the team was so easily allowing opponents to create chances.

Fulham were bottom of the Premier League table before the match, having scored only four goals in the league this season. Onana should not have been forced to make so many saves. Even Fulham fans near the press box did not expect their team to create so many opportunities. A home fan commented at halftime: "This is the most chances we've created all season."

A poor start to the season has affected the team's confidence. Onana tried to lift the backline's spirits, clapping every time a teammate made a clearance. Maguire also encouraged Dalot after a failed through-ball attempt.

Hojlund missed the match due to shin pain following the Brighton game. This injury also kept him out throughout pre-season, forcing Carrick to deploy an attacking formation without a true striker once again.

Hojlund's injury history has raised concerns. In the first half of last season, he missed more than a month with a knee injury, and then three matches at the end of the season due to shin pain.

Hojlund had said after Manchester United's Champions League win against Sabah that his injury problems were resolved, but it appears that was not the case. Cunha played as the striker again, and Fulham's second-half goal highlighted his unsuitability for the position.

As Mainoo tried to build play from the back, Cunha was pressured by Calvin Bassey. Onana initially saved Bassey's shot, but the ball rebounded off Lisandro Martinez and went into the net.

Onana misjudged the rebound and could have handled it with his hands, but chose to clear with his feet instead. However, he received little protection throughout the match, so it is difficult to criticize the goalkeeper.

Manchester Evening News believes Manchester United got the result they deserved, and Onana cannot continue to save the team. Gary Neville, commenting on Sky Sports, said: "I have watched Manchester United since I was five years old, and this was the worst 15 minutes I have ever seen them play. It was absolutely dreadful."

Carrick's team has problems in many positions. Manchester United played poorly, easily allowing opponents to create chances. The midfield lacked dynamism, and there was no clear pattern or combination play in the final third. The team that finished third in the Premier League last season is unrecognizable now.

Cunha equalized late on with a rebound, but this did little to change the overall picture. Manchester United were fortunate to get a point, while Fulham will rue wasting so many opportunities.

When the goalkeeper is the team's best player, it is a clear warning sign, and pressure on Carrick is mounting.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com