Bruno Fernandes has reportedly said in a stunning outburst, calling out Manchester United’s ownership for a lack of bravery
Manchester United delivered another display that perfectly captured the contradiction of their season — flashes of excitement mixed with moments that left supporters pulling their hair out. Just as hope began to build, familiar lapses crept in, making it difficult to know whether to take encouragement or feel disappointment.
The thrilling 4–4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday night may not have reached the sheer chaos of last season’s encounter with Lyon, but it came uncomfortably close. Ruben Amorim’s team looked imaginative and dangerous in attack, yet worryingly vulnerable whenever they had to protect their own goal, repeatedly cancelling out their best work with avoidable mistakes.
Without two crucial late interventions from recent signing Senne Lammens, United could easily have walked away with nothing. Even so, the result extended an alarming pattern, with the Red Devils now dropping seven points from their last three Premier League matches at Old Trafford.
Considering last season’s miserable 15th-place finish, the ongoing inconsistency is hardly shocking. United sit sixth in a tightly packed table where several sides are jostling for European qualification. That position hints at steady improvement during the 2025/26 campaign, but conceding four goals at home once again exposed the same defensive frailties that have haunted them for months.
As seen earlier this month against West Ham, United failed to make the most of a bright start after taking the lead. They went 1–0 up and had clear chances to build a commanding advantage, but both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo wasted good opportunities before half-time.
For Mbeumo, it was another frustrating night during a difficult spell. With the winger set to depart for AFCON duty, he squandered several openings, including a glaring first-half volley, and struggled to provide calm decision-making when United needed it most.
At the back, Luke Shaw endured a torrid evening. Charged with organising an inexperienced and patched-together defence, the senior full-back was caught out of position as Antoine Semenyo burst through to score Bournemouth’s equaliser just before the interval. Shaw also repeatedly gave the ball away down the left flank, losing possession 14 times according to Sofascore — a statistic that underlined just how much United are missing the presence of Lisandro Martínez.
Amorim will also be desperate to welcome back Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire to full fitness. With defensive resources stretched, United were repeatedly sliced open by simple, direct passes through their back three. Eli Junior Kroupi’s late equaliser summed up how cheaply control was surrendered yet again.
While the manager will continue to emphasise collective responsibility, the match intensified scrutiny on one of the club’s biggest recent investments. INEOS may already regret several signings made before their takeover, with the £64 million spent on Rasmus Højlund in 2023 standing out. The Danish striker showed early promise and shone in the Champions League, but his form collapsed in his second season, eventually leading to his exit.
There is growing concern that a similar story could be unfolding with Leny Yoro. Signed from Lille for £52 million in 2024, the teenage defender battled through early injury problems and became a key figure during last season’s Europa League run. His confidence in carrying the ball from deep drew lofty comparisons, and optimism around his future was widespread.
This season, however, that excitement has faded. Yoro has struggled to find consistency and endured another difficult outing against Bournemouth. Playing on the right of the back three, he was taken off in the second half after repeatedly losing possession and offering little influence in build-up play.
From just 47 touches, the France U21 international gave the ball away nine times, created no chances, failed to beat an opponent, and showed limited authority defensively, winning only half of his duels. Notably, Amorim chose to withdraw Yoro rather than cheaper squad option Ayden Heaven, a decision that spoke volumes on the night.
At just 19, Yoro will not be discarded lightly. Still, as United have already discovered with Højlund, patience at the highest level is finite. If his performances do not improve meaningfully before the season concludes, serious doubts will emerge over whether he truly fits Amorim’s long-term defensive vision.
United’s rebuild is inching forward, but matches like this underline how fragile that progress remains — and how, in this evolving side, reputations alone will no longer guarantee a place.
