Manchester United’s season is all but over after FA Cup exit

United fumbled its last chance to save its disappointing season. Fans clung to the FA Cup as a favorable competition, but Fulham sullied their hopes.

After the home team clawed themselves back into the game, ending 1-1 in regulation, a stalemate overtime left the two sides to trade spot kicks to find a winner. 

As manager Ruben Amorim put it, “in penalties, it can go both ways, and today was not our day.”

It hasn’t been United’s day since May of last year when former manager Erik ten Hag won the FA Cup, but he was relieved of his duties after a porous Premier League start. Not much has changed under Amorim.

The Red Devils were bounced out of the Carabao Cup in December, have no European competition and currently sit 14th in the Premier League table. Trophies are as far from the club as they’ve ever been.

At this point, the club would be delighted with a top-half Premier League finish, but given the sides above them in the table, that seems a tall task for a coach yet to prove he can turn things around.

Amorim’s only solace is the fact his job should be safe until the summer transfer window, when the club can do some serious work to shape the roster to the manager’s liking. The stubborn Portuguese coach is trying to fit square pegs in round holes and therefore finding little success.

Much to the fans dismay, United must chug along to the end of the season with the current mediocrity. Finishing anywhere near the bottom-half of the table is reprehensible for the 13-time Premier League winners, whose worst finish ever was last season at eighth.

Amorim could be on the wrong side of history given that his players are yet to show a consistent fight and desire to rectify this form.

It should be simple: the players fight the rest of the season for the integrity of the club that employs them and their own pride. However, given the performances this season from the squad, it’s worth asking if either exists.