United Fans Boo Players After Worst Start in 40 Years
Bryan Mbeumo leads the squad with four goals, trailing eight other Premier League strikers after a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
By Layla Petrov ·
Manchester United fans booed their entire first-team squad off the pitch following a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday, marking the first time in recent memory the crowd turned against the players rather than just the manager.
The loss extended the club's worst start to a Premier League season in four decades. The defeat threw the future of manager Michael Carrick into doubt and placed the entire ownership group, senior management, and playing roster under scrutiny.
The scoring drought has been a central point of contention. Since Cristiano Ronaldo departed in November 2022, the team has lacked a consistent goalscorer. Rasmus Hojlund was sold back to Italy, and summer signing Benjamin Sesko has been sidelined by injuries.
Bryan Mbeumo currently tops United's scoring chart with four goals. However, eight other Premier League players have recorded more goals this season. The club has also experimented with using wide players as strikers and placing playmaker Bruno Fernandes in a false nine role, a position that limited his ability to create chances.
Tensions between the board and the dressing room have also surfaced. Defender Lisandro Martinez criticized CEO Jason Wilcox for a lack of summer investment after a loss to Atletico Madrid. The Glazer family's influence dates back to 2005, and current CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Omar Berrada face heavy criticism for 75 signings made over the last 13 years.
Bruno Fernandes, who won the PFA Player of the Year award for breaking the Premier League assists record, was also booed despite not playing. He had publicly criticized Carrick's tactics following a loss to Como in the Champions League. Fernandes, 32, remains the team's standout performer, though the club considered selling him to Saudi Arabia or Galatasaray this summer.
The club also failed to sign a left-back during the transfer window, despite long links with Newcastle's Lewis Hall. Former defender Gary Neville suggested on Sky Sports that a few players lack professionalism. The team has cycled through various tactical approaches, from pressuring opponents to sitting deep, without finding a stable identity.
