The spotlight is firmly on a particular player—rumored to be Joshua Zirkzee—who had promised to elevate his performance ahead of the international break but failed to live up to expectations during tonight’s match.
The criticism grew after United unleashed more than 22 shots on goal but failed to score, with Zirkzee squandering at least six clear chances, including a glaring miss in front of an open net.
The match, which kicked off at 12:00 PM PDT (8:00 PM BST), saw Nottingham Forest take an early lead through Anthony Elanga, a former United player, who netted a stunning solo effort within the first five minutes.
Despite United dominating possession and creating chances—highlighted by Diogo Dalot hitting the crossbar—fans took to social media to express their frustration, particularly with Zirkzee’s inability to finish.
Manager Ruben Amorim was visibly frustrated on the sidelines, reportedly directing harsh words at the underperforming forward, whose lack of clinical finishing has left supporters furious. One fan on X commented, “Promised us goals after the break, and he misses an open net—unacceptable.”
Zirkzee, who started as the sole striker in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation alongside Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, has had a difficult season, with just three goals in 29 Premier League appearances.
Tonight’s match was seen as a prime opportunity for Zirkzee to silence his critics after his pre-break promise, but his wastefulness has reignited calls for Rasmus Højlund, currently on the bench, to take the starting role.
United’s overall season struggles only added to the tension: sitting 13th in the table with 37 points, the Red Devils are desperate for a spark, and fans expected Zirkzee to provide it, especially against a Forest team looking to secure a historic league double over United—something they haven’t achieved since 1992.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest’s disciplined defense and counter-attacking style—highlighted by Elanga’s pace and Morgan Gibbs-White’s creativity—kept United at bay.
As the match heads toward its conclusion at around 2:00 PM PDT, the pressure on Amorim continues to grow, but fans’ anger remains fixed on Zirkzee, whose unfulfilled promise has defined the night.
Whether this marks a turning point in his United career or worsens the divide with the fanbase remains to be seen.
