Manchester United endured a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, a result that highlighted both individual and collective shortcomings within the team. Despite moments of brilliance from key players like Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Højlund, the defensive frailties and lack of consistency ultimately sealed their fate. Here’s a detailed analysis of the player performances:
Player Ratings Breakdown
Goalkeeper
Andre Onana – 1
Arguably his worst performance in a Manchester United shirt. The Cameroonian shot-stopper had a nightmare display, being directly at fault for two of Nottingham Forest’s goals. For Morgan Gibbs-White’s second, Onana allowed a relatively tame shot to slip through, an error that left fans in disbelief. His indecision and failure to even attempt a save for Chris Wood’s header compounded the frustration. Such lapses have put his role under scrutiny, as this marked another chapter in a season riddled with inconsistent performances.
Defenders
Leny Yoro – 5
The youngster showed moments of composure in his first start for the club. While his passing was clean and his positioning commendable, he failed to close down Chris Wood quickly enough for Forest’s third goal. A decent debut, but there is room for improvement in defensive awareness.
Matthijs de Ligt – 5
The Dutch defender played a crucial role in the buildup to United’s first equalizer, displaying patience and precision on the ball. However, his defensive contributions left much to be desired. A poor clearance almost gifted Jota Silva another scoring opportunity, underlining his inconsistent display.
Lisandro Martinez – 2
A forgettable outing for the Argentine. He lost an aerial duel to Milenkovic for Forest’s opener and was equally culpable, alongside Onana, for the team’s failure to prevent Wood’s decisive goal. Martinez’s usually dependable defensive attributes were glaringly absent.
Midfielders
Amad Diallo – 7
One of the brighter sparks in an otherwise lackluster team performance. After a quiet first half, Diallo burst into life following Forest’s second goal. His dazzling dribble and pinpoint assist for Bruno Fernandes highlighted his creativity and composure under pressure.
Kobbie Mainoo – 4
The young midfielder struggled to impose himself in the center of the park. His passing was overly cautious, and he failed to provide the necessary control or spark in midfield. A rare off-day for the typically reliable Mainoo.
Manuel Ugarte – 6
Ugarte dominated the first half, contributing significantly to the buildup for Højlund’s equalizer. However, his influence waned as Forest began to grow into the game. While solid in parts, he failed to maintain his first-half intensity.
Fullbacks
Diogo Dalot – 6
A steady performance from the Portuguese fullback. While his defensive work was unremarkable, he delivered several dangerous crosses into the box, none of which were capitalized on by his teammates.
Alejandro Garnacho – 4
The winger failed to make an impact during his time on the pitch. His subdued display saw him struggle to penetrate Forest’s defensive setup, leading to an early substitution.
Attackers
Bruno Fernandes – 8
The standout performer for Manchester United. Fernandes provided a clever assist for Højlund’s equalizer, scored a stunning goal to give United hope, and came close to adding another with a brilliant free kick that rattled the crossbar. However, his wayward pass directly contributed to Forest’s second goal, slightly marring an otherwise excellent performance.
Rasmus Højlund – 7
The Danish striker continued to impress, showing sharp positioning to score United’s first goal. His link-up play was effective, and he remained a constant threat throughout the match.
Substitutes
Marcus Rashford – 6
Added some width and delivered a few decent crosses, but failed to make a decisive impact in the final third.
Noussair Mazraoui – 6
Provided attacking support and linked up well with Amad Diallo, but his contributions were limited.
Harry Maguire – 6
Offered stability after coming on as part of a back three. While solid, he wasn’t heavily tested by Forest’s attack.
Joshua Zirkzee – 5
Showed glimpses of technical ability and good passing but lacked the cutting edge needed to influence the game.
Mason Mount – 5
The former Chelsea man struggled to leave his mark after being introduced, appearing largely ineffective.
Summary
This loss serves as a harsh reminder of Manchester United’s current inconsistencies. Defensive lapses, particularly from Andre Onana and Lisandro Martinez, proved to be the team’s undoing, overshadowing the creative brilliance of players like Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo. While there were fleeting moments of promise, the collective failure to maintain composure and capitalize on key opportunities left United exposed to a well-organized Nottingham Forest side.
The defeat raises serious questions about United’s defensive setup and overall mentality as they seek t
o bounce back from what is fast becoming a troubling start to the season.