Manchester United have used the cup competitions as a sign of hope and optimism amid a dreadful league campaign either side of the managerial change. Despite the poor showings in the Premier League, both the Europa League and FA Cup have offered another chance for Manchester United to redeem a poor campaign, as it did last season with the FA Cup under Ten Hag. However, after a strong showing against Arsenal in the 3rd round, and a bit of luck against Leicester City in round 4, United ran out of steam as they exited the competition in the clash with Fulham following a big penalty shootout display from Fulham’s Leno.

The result leaves United with just the Europa League left to play for, as even a top-half league finish seems like a long way away, and while United remain one of the favourites for the European silverware, they will be hoping to put their FA Cup disappointment aside quickly before the knockout stages get underway in just a short amount of time.

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Teams

Manchester United put out arguably their strongest available XI amid the growing list of injuries. With 120 minutes of action plus penalties, Amorim had to utilise his bench, with only the 2 back-up keepers not seeing any action across the clash. Despite Garnacho starting on the bench, he was soon called upon as United looked to turn the game back in their favour, and with the trust being shown in the young stars of Obi-Martin and Heaven, Amorim is digging deep in his squad to keep the team in with a chance in the current spell.

For Fulham, their depth was much clearer, as they could call on some dangerous attacking threats through the closing stages, and when looking at the XI’s going into the shootout, it felt like Fulham had more experience in terms of the high-pressure moments. The squad Marco Silva has accumulated has certainly been deserving of respect this season, and this was another key moment in this impressive campaign.

Manchester United: Onana, Yoro (Lindelof 53′), Maguire (Heaven 91′), De Ligt, Dalot, Fernandes, Ugarte (Garnacho 53′), Mazraoui, Eriksen (Casemiro 68′), Hojlund (Obi-Martin 68′), Zirkzee

Subs: Graczyk, Murdock

Fulham: Leno, Robinson, Bassey, Andersen, Castagne, Berge, Lukic (Reed 101′), Iwobi (Sessegnon 107′), Pereira (Willian 90′), Traore (Smith Rowe 53′), Muniz (Jimenez 90′)

Subs: Benda, Diop, Cuenca, Cairney

Manchester United (3)1-1(4) Fulham

The match began with Manchester United exerting early pressure, but it was Fulham who broke the deadlock. In first-half stoppage time, defender Calvin Bassey headed home from a corner, capitalizing on United’s ongoing struggles with set-piece defending.

United responded in the second half, with Bruno Fernandes levelling the score in the 71st minute. Despite creating several opportunities, including notable efforts from Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi, United were unable to find a winner, thanks in large part to the heroics of Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

The match proceeded to extra time, but neither side could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout. Fulham converted all four of their spot-kicks, with Antonee Robinson sealing the victory. For United, Victor Lindelöf and Joshua Zirkzee saw their penalties saved by Leno, resulting in a 4-3 shootout defeat.

This defeat marks a significant setback for Manchester United, who have now exited both domestic cup competitions and sit 14th in the Premier League. Their hopes for European competition next season now rest solely on their Europa League campaign.

Fulham’s victory propels them into the quarter-finals, where they will face Crystal Palace. This marks their first FA Cup final appearance in 50 years, a testament to the progress made under manager Marco Silva.

Talking Points

United’s aspirations of retaining the FA Cup were dashed as they exited the competition in the fifth round. Calvin Bassey’s header in first-half stoppage time put Fulham ahead, capitalizing on a flick from Rodrigo Muniz. Bruno Fernandes restored parity in the 71st minute with a precise left-footed strike from Diogo Dalot’s cross. Despite opportunities for both sides, including a notable save by Fulham’s Bernd Leno from United’s Chido Obi in extra time, the match proceeded to penalties.

The defeat marks a significant setback for United, who had reached the FA Cup final in the previous two seasons, winning against Manchester City last year. With this loss, their only remaining opportunity for silverware this season lies in the Europa League.

United’s struggles in penalty shootouts persisted, suffering their second such defeat of the season, with the first being against Manchester City in the Community Shield. In the shootout against Fulham, United successfully converted their first three penalties through Fernandes, Dalot, and Casemiro. However, Victor Lindelof’s attempt was saved by Leno, and Joshua Zirkzee’s effort was also thwarted, sealing United’s fate.

The recurring issues in high-pressure scenarios raise concerns about United’s composure and execution in critical moments, reflecting broader challenges faced under manager Ruben Amorim.

Amidst scrutiny from former United captain Roy Keane, who questioned his leadership qualities, Bruno Fernandes delivered a performance that underscored his importance to the team. His equalizing goal not only brought United back into the match but also demonstrated his resilience and commitment.

Post-match, Fernandes acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the team’s focus on the Europa League as their remaining avenue for success this season. His response to criticism and ability to perform under pressure highlight his role as a central figure in United’s efforts to navigate a challenging period.