On December 27th, in the Premier League Boxing Day fixture, Manchester United faced off against Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home. Bruno Fernandes' red card changed the course of the game, leaving United with ten men after the 47th minute. They ultimately lost the match while playing a man down. Wolves player Cunha scored one goal and provided one assist, directly scoring from a corner kick and then assisting Hwang Hee-chan's goal. The defeat to Wolves, with a scoreline of 0-2, has made it clear to Amorim that the £55 million new star is lazier than Rashford, having played 15 games without scoring or assisting any goals.
Last season, Manchester United finished 8th in the Premier League, and this season they are likely to rank even lower. Currently, United has only managed 6 wins, 4 draws, and 8 losses in 18 Premier League matches, accumulating 22 points and sitting in 14th place, which is the seventh from the bottom, with an 8-point lead over the relegation zone. Despite having a squad value of 790 million euros, placing them among the top in the league, their league position is disappointingly low.
There are several high-priced but underperforming players in the United squad, whose individual abilities do not match their market value. These include Marcus Rashford and Joao Felix at 55 million euros, Garnacho at 50 million, and Menu among others. Menu, who shares the same valuation as Rashford, also seems overpriced. In the match against Wolves, Menu started and was substituted after 63 minutes. He had 3 key passes and 1 tackle, with 0 shots, 0 dribbles, 37 touches, 11 ball losses, a pass success rate of 69%, 8 duels won 2 times, and was dribbled past twice.
As a midfielder, Menu has a high rate of ball loss and does not seem to take defense seriously. At only 19 years old, he appears like a seasoned veteran to many fans. Football requires midfielders to have excellent running ability; forwards like Rashford primarily focus on attacking and scoring, so they can afford to do less defending. However, Menu, being in a midfield role, should be more active, yet he lacks the drive and energy expected of someone his age. Bruno Fernandes may play aggressively, but he shows commitment; Menu, however, lacks Bruno's fighting spirit.
Menu surprised Manchester United fans with his outstanding performance last season. This season, however, he has been lacking in highlights, and United fans often see him with a relaxed attitude and making mistakes during matches, such as the game against Leicester City where he was dispossessed leading to a goal conceded by United. Menu now plays like a "master," exhibiting Pirlo-like composure, but his skills fall far short, as if he truly believes himself to be a midfield maestro. This season, Menu has made 15 appearances for United, starting 12 times, without scoring or assisting any goals. Amorim should now have a true understanding of Menu, and it's time for Casemiro to start.