Bruno Fernandes appears to immediately point finger of blame after Man Utd's latest loss
Bruno Fernandes was seen arguing with referee Michael Oliver in the aftermath of Manchester United's 2-1 defeat against Fulham.
United fell behind in the 65th minute after Calvin Bassey broke the deadlock before Harry Maguire looked to have salvaged a point in the final minute of normal time. Alex Iwobi plundered a dramatic winner for Fulham in the seventh minute of injury time to seal a memorable win for the visitors.
As the dust settled, Fernandes could be seen having an animated discussion with Oliver. The United captain cut a frustrated figure as he spoke with Oliver and his team for a brief period in front of Erik ten Hag before eventually walking off in anger.
Despite Fernandes' apparent anger with the officials, Ten Hag had no complaints about the officiating when he spoke to BBC Sport post-match. The Dutchman instead bemoaned the mistake his side made in the build-up to Iwobi's last-gasp goal.
He said: "It was a throw-in [for Fulham] in the corner, we had them under pressure and we have one player in the wrong position. As a team we should manage that and make sure everyone is in the right position. We let them escape and it is avoidable.
"The team showed big character to fight back, we deserved the equaliser and went for the win - we showed big personality and character. It was that mistake. Before that we went for the win and we should have taken our opportunities."
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The defeat has put a major dent in Manchester United's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season and leaves them eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. An honest Harry Maguire admitted post-match that United simply didn't do enough to win.
Join the debate! What did you make of Man Utd's performance against Fulham? Let us know here.
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He said: "Overall on the balance of play we didn't do enough in the first 60 minutes or so, we started the game not great. The first half was pretty even, but when you're not playing at your best you have to do the basics right and set pieces is part of that.
"We knew they would cause us a threat from those areas and they've scored early in the second from what we knew - so that's disappointing on that aspect. To be a goal behind, I thought our reaction was brilliant especially in the last 30 minutes and when we equalised probably only one team going to win it.
"We were probably naive in the end by throwing too many bodies forward and getting done on the counterattack. We've been on a good run of form and coming into the game we were confident."
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The warning Erik ten Hag gave Manchester United youngster Omari Forson in pre-season
Manchester United’s injury crisis could see teenager forward Omari Forson make his first Premier League start this afternoon against Fulham.
The academy graduate has already made three appearances for the first team this season, and made his top flight bow as a late substitute in the recent win over Wolves.
Ten Hag is understood to be a big fan of the 19-year-old who was given opportunities to shine during United’s pre-season tour of America.
Though he demonstrated flashes of potential, Forson also showed signs of naivety particularly during a 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund.
Forson started the game against the Bundesliga side but was taken off after just 38 minutes.
The versatile forward was involved in a confrontation with Julian Ryerson and kicked out at the defender, before squaring up to Karim Adeyemi who stepped in to defend his teammate.
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Ten Hag defused the situation by summoning Antony from the bench and substituted Forson, much to the youngster’s obvious disappointment.
Forson was consoled by Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay before he was seen being lectured to by his manager.
‘When there is a VAR, he gets sent off,’ said the Dutchman after the game, explaining his decision to remove Forson from the fray.
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Man United's Hojlund to miss two to three weeks with injury
‘He played a good game and the opponent gets annoyed with him, so that is a learning curve but don’t take it into your own hands.
‘You can’t be the judge, you have to play football, you have to beat your opponent.
‘You have to net and that is the best way to react.’
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Manchester United XI vs Fulham: Omari Forson starting - lineup, confirmed team news and injury latest today
Hojlund had been in superb form of late following a slow start to his Old Trafford career in the aftermath of a high-profile £72million summer transfer from Atalanta, scoring eight goals in his last eight appearances including an early brace in last weekend’s hard-fought 2-1 win at Luton.
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He looked set to lead the line again when in-form United entertain Fulham on Saturday, only for the club to announce on Friday that Hojlund had now suffered a muscle injury that will keep him out for two to three weeks.
Hojlund now stands to miss the derby against Manchester City at the Etihad on March 3, in addition to games against Fulham and likely Everton plus the FA Cup fifth-round trip to Nottingham Forest next week.
In his place comes 19-year-old Forson, the academy graduate who has impressed for the Under-21s this season and made his Premier League debut as a late substitute in the chaotic 4-3 win over Wolves at the start of February.
Forson has also appeared in late cameos in the recent FA Cup ties against Wigan and Newport as well as being in Champions League squads.
Luke Shaw could now miss the rest of the season after suffering his own muscle injury in the recent win at Luton, sending the England defender to join Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka back in the treatment room.
United are still without the likes of Mason Mount and Anthony Martial, meanwhile, with Victor Lindelof starting at left-back in place of the injured Shaw.
Youngsters Willy Kambwala and Toby Collyer both come onto the bench.
Man Utd XI: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Forson
Injuries: Hojlund, Shaw, Martinez, Wan-Bissaka, Martial, Mount, Malacia
Time and date: 3pm GMT, Saturday February 24, 2024
Venue: Old Trafford
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Does the Carabao Cup winner qualify for the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League?
The first domestic trophy of the English soccer season will be collected on Sunday by either Chelsea or Liverpool, who meet at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final (English League Cup final or EFL Cup final, if you prefer). And a place in Europe is on the line for the winners, although neither The Blues nor The Reds will be especially excited by it.
What are the rules regarding European qualification in the Carabao Cup?
Up until the 2019-20 season, the winner of the tournament, the third biggest in the English game after the Premier League and the FA Cup, earned a spot in the Europa League, Europe’s second-level club competition. But following the creation of the Europa Conference League in the 2021-22, the Carabao Cup holder has instead entered into the third-tier tournament.
Or at least that’s the theory. The rules state that if the cup winner qualifies for Europe by other means, the Carabao/League/EFL Cup spot is transferred to the highest-ranked Premier League team that season that hasn’t already sealed a European spot.
And that’s exactly what has happened three seasons running, with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Aston Villa, who finished seventh in the league, all featuring in the Europa Conference League because Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United, the last three cups winners, qualified for the Champions League.
Why might Chelsea not want to qualify for Europe?
With Liverpool challenging for the Premier League title and certain to finish in the top places, the same thing will happen again if Jürgen Klopp’s men pick up the trophy.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are toiling in 10th spot, which means they would seal a Europa League Conference place if they were to lift the trophy.
However, soccer finance expert Kieran Maguire told The Athletic that The Blues wouldn’t make any money from playing in the competition and could accept a European ban rather than have to immediately face UEFA’s Financial Fair Play restrictions, which are tighter than the Premier League’s. Another year out of Europe would give them a chance to get their books in order ahead of a potential return further down the line.
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Man Utd player ratings vs Fulham: No Rasmus Hojlund, no party! Bruno Fernandes falls flat and Marcus Rashford abysmal as Erik ten Hag's top-four hopes hit by damaging defeat
Manchester United's mini-revival appears to have been built on sand after all, as it took just a couple of injuries for Erik ten Hag's side to sink to their first defeat of 2024 as they were beaten 2-1 at home by a Fulham side who had not won away since the opening day of the season.
Fulham deservedly took the lead early in the second half through a thumping effort from Calvin Bassey, and United had only half-chances to score until Harry Maguire stabbed home from close-range in the 89th minute. With nine minutes added on and Bruno Fernandes whipping up the crowd, Fulham were prepared for an onslaught.
But instead it was the Londoners who had the last laugh, Iwobi making it third time lucky and slotting into the bottom corner after United were too slow to shut down a visiting counter-attack.
Ten Hag's side are now eight points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa and could be six behind Tottenham in fifth if Spurs win their game in hand, giving them a mountain to climb if they want to qualify for the Champions League.
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GOAL rates United's players from Old Trafford...
Goalkeeper & Defence
Andre Onana (7/10):
Did well to keep outa header from Lukic and the curler from Andreas Pereira. Couldn't do much about Bassey's thunderous drive.
Diogo Dalot (6/10):
Clipped the post from the edge of the area. Crossing wasn't good enough and struggled to get at Antonee Robinson.
Raphael Varane (5/10):
Alex Iwobi had the run of him in the first half
Harry Maguire (6/10):
Booked for a late and dangerous challenge on Sasa Lukic but prevented Fulham from creating even more danger. Grabbed the equaliser but was then easily dribbled past on the counter before Iwobi pounced to get the winner.
Victor Lindelof (5/10):
A huge downgrade on Shaw. Offered nothing in attack and too easy for Fulham to get past.
Midfield
Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):
Made a few good challenges to thwart Fulham but not nearly as assured or influential as in recent weeks.
Casemiro (5/10):
Made a silly error against Lukic which gifted Fulham a counterattack. His day ended prematurely following a clash of heads with Sasa Lukic.
Bruno Fernandes (5/10):
Another shoddy display in what has become a worrying run of form for the captain. Failed to control a through ball which would have put him clean through on goal and created very few promising moments, aside from a late flurry which saw him set up the equaliser and force Bernd Leno into a low save.
Attack
Omari Forson (4/10):
A difficult full debut and couldn't do anything of note in attack. He did look tidy though and could be better suited to a midfield role.
Marcus Rashford (4/10):
Another pitiful display at centre-forward, offering none of the hold-up play of Hojlund or the hard-work. Backed away from a 50-50 ball in the first half which led to a big chance for Fulham.
Alejandro Garnacho (7/10):
The only United outfield player who can be proud of their performance. Tested Leno with a powerful shot and had another goal-bound effort blocked by Robinson.
Subs & Manager
Scott McTominay (5/10):
Hauled on earlier than usual due to Casemiro's head injury. Barely got a sniff of danger.
Christian Eriksen (6/10):
Made his first appearance since January 14 and at first was slow and sloppy. Got more effective in the final few minutes.
Amad Diallo (N/A):
Replaced Mainoo in the 80th minute.
Antony (N/A):
Came on in the 98th minute.
Erik ten Hag (5/10):
Took a bold move in starting 19-year-old Forson but it did not work. His substitutions helped get the equaliser but ultimately his team looked weak with just a couple of injuries.
Man Utd concede Fergie-time winner as absent Jim Ratcliffe sent brutal reality check
Alex Iwobi burst Manchester United’s balloon in spectacular style to surely leave Sir Jim Ratcliffe with a face redder than his club’s shirts.
In his first week officially in charge of football operations, United’s new investor talked up his dream of catching and over-taking Manchester City and Liverpool. But it was his United who were knocked off their five match winning perch by a scintillating Fulham display of courage and, in the end, mental strength.
And Marco Silva's stars even rubbed salt in Ratcliffe’s wounds by conjuring a Fergie-time winner, expertly fired home by Iwobi on a devastating Fulham break in the seventh minute of time added on. It was their first Old Trafford win in 20 years - and richly deserved as United’‘s recent revival was dramatically stopped in its tracks.
United fans thought it might be their stars who could snatch victory in nine minutes of injury time after Harry Maguire had equalised a minute from normal time with a close range finish. The Red Devils, second best for most of the game, looked to be finishing strongly as Fulham failed to hang on to a 1-0 lead after defender Calvin Bassey smashed home a super 65th minute strike.
But no-one can dispute Fulham weren’t worth a victory that has badly damaged United’s top four hopes. Losing Rasmus Hojlund to a training ground injury was always going to be a big blow for United after his explosive recent goalscoring form.
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Without him, United’s attack lacked the central focus, energy and threat that’s been a feature of a revival that brought them into the game on the back of five straight wins, four in the League. And boy, didn’t Fulham take full advantage.
Silva’s men settled quickly and posed United’s defence a host of problems throughout the game. In fact, United couldn’t have complained if they’d been a couple of goals down in the opening twenty minutes with Iwobi missing two golden chances.
First he scuffed a shot past Onana’s right hand post after a Muniz knock-down then the Fulham star dragged his shot past the same upright after Pereira’s pass. While United struggled for rhythm, Fulham kept probing and Onana made a fine save from a Muniz header following Pereira’s corner with Lukic unable to turn the loose ball home.
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What went wrong for Man United vs Fulham? Share your thoughts in the comments below
United were disjointed and their first decent effort took 27 minutes to come with Antonee Robinson heading a goal bound shot from Alejandro Garnacho off the line. Dalot struck a shot against the base of the post too, but Fulham repeatedly picked holes in United’s defence, an ominous sign ahead of next Sunday’s Manchester derby against title-chasing City.
Muniz spun Lindelof and crashed a shot against the outside of the post as United got lucky again. A clash of heads with Reed saw a bloodied Casemiro replaced by Scott McTominay while teenage midfielder Omari Forson, making his first League start, was hooked for Christian Eriksen.
Despite the changes Fulham continued to impress and Bassey’s goal came as no real surprise. United finally woke up, piling on the pressure which brought Maguire’s goal and the promise of victory. But this was Fulham’s day - and deservedly so.
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