Teething problems for Man Utd’s £200m frontline

Rasmus Hojlund sought out UK journalists in Chicago after the match to formally state his intention to stay with Manchester United in their second Premier League Summer Series game last month, which was notable.

Hojlund was unaware of this at the time, but it could turn out to be his last start for United.

Hojlund played for 18 minutes in the final tour game against Everton with a $74 million move from RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko pending.

He hasn’t played in either of United’s two Premier League games since then and was an unused substitute against Fiorentina at Old Trafford.

This week, it is anticipated that Serie A champions Napoli will redouble their efforts to find a breakthrough that would allow Hojlund to fill the position left by Romelu Lukaku, who is expected to miss four months with a thigh injury.

What United manager Ruben Amorim was unaware of as he addressed him following the Bournemouth game was how difficult it would be for them to score goals in open play.

United’s only goal of the season is an own goal, scored by Rodrigo Muniz, with a 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage following an opening 1-0 defeat by Arsenal.

Since that game against Everton, they have scored four goals, a penalty, two own goals, and one effort from open play.

United may be disappointed that they can’t leave Fulham on Sunday with the most points, but Bruno Fernandes’ second penalty, which was fired high over the bar, is the main culprit.

Their best chances came in the second half, not more, according to Fulham manager Marco Silva, who pointedly observed, “at the end, nothing more.”

United’s position should be mitigated in some ways.

Sesko and his new team-mates, who are also learning a new playstyle, have two weeks’ worth of training sessions.

The 22-year-old started 37 minutes at Craven Cottage from the bench in his opening game against Arsenal, adding that Amorim noted that the United were “not in their best moment.”

The Portuguese claim that they started playing instead of defending a lead.

Even though he was moving at full speed and the ball was dropping over his shoulder, Cunha almost had a sensational first-half goal when he controlled Altay Bayindir’s magnificent left-footed touch to keep his balance and make his own effort on goal with his right foot, which Bernd Leno did very well to keep out.

It seems like a matter of time before the Brazilian, who was set up by Mason Mount, actually finds the net because of how stunningly eye-catching his United career has been.

Mbeumo and his teammates worked hard, and their goal in the dying stages of the game would have been impacted by the exceptional pace of USA international Antonee Robinson.

United’s attack, however, currently feels more like a group of talented players trying to be more of a unit.

As you would expect, Amorim rejects the notion that a scoring issue, which caused United to net just 44 league goals last season, which was their worst since the 1973-1974 relegation campaign, has not been resolved. Since last season, the transfer money has been concentrating on the attack.

He said, “I forget the last season.” We were more concerned with keeping the outcome, as I previously stated.

Because we are making so many chances, we will score goals. That is crucial.

Amorim has frequently discussed the advantages of a season-long European campaign without one.

The EFL Cup will be the only midweek fixture if United advance during the three-week break between the two upcoming international breaks.

However, there is no such thing as a “time stutter.”

As Sesko gets acquainted with the Premier League and Cunha and Mbeumo get used to him and each other, United must find a way to win games.

After finishing last season 15th, they are currently 16th after two games, and Burnley, who has just been promoted, will visit them on Saturday.

If United had scored the opener through Bruno Fernandes, the inquest would not have been as serious.

Fernandes skied the task instead.

The United man ended up on the ground as a corner came in as VAR Darren England intervened to stop a Calvin Bassey challenge on Mason Mount that had become contentious.

Marco Silva, the manager of Fulham, claimed Leny Yoro had a foul in the build-up to the visitors’ goal and that it ought not to have been awarded.

When Kavanagh accidentally tapped into his shoulder, forcing the United skipper to go through his routine again, Fernandes had placed the ball on the spot and was striding backwards as part of his routine.

Gary Neville and Ashley Young, former United players, said on Sky Sports that the incident would have stifled Fernandes’ concentration.

Fernandes later said, “I was upset. You have your own routine and tasks to perform as a penalty taker.

“The referee didn’t apologize, so I was upset.” That is what gave me that moment of a pull.