Who Will Be Manchester United’s Next Scapegoats?

Just six games in, and Manchester United’s next scapegoat looms larger after a week of celebration has quickly turned into heartbreak.

Just a week ago, Manchester United claimed a 2-1 victory over Chelsea after playing the entire first half with a man more, a win that gave its fans hope of a new beginning and the illusion of their team turning a corner. But that feeling was brutally snatched away the following game, a humbling 3-1 defeat to Brentford that dragged them back down to earth.

Questions have been asked if Ruben Amorim is the right man for the Manchester United job. He did well as the Sporting Lisbon coach, but the style of play he’s been trying to implement since his takeover has not worked. His record as coach of the Reds has been abysmal, with 33 games played, nine wins, 17 losses, and seven draws, making his tenure one of the worst United sides ever.

Though the season is still in its early stages, the squad is already falling short of expectations, and last campaign’s promises are quickly fading. Once again, poor results and inconsistency have reignited the uncomfortable debate, with the club’s culture of blame showing no sign of fading away.

The Red Devils have picked up where they left off last season. The previous campaign saw United endure their worst-ever season in top-flight history, collecting just 42 points from 38 games alongside 18 defeats, and during this period, Ruben Amorim made the bold claim that his side was “maybe the worst Manchester United team in history” – a statement that, unfortunately, carried more than a hint of truth.

In what was also a season to forget, they lost the golden opportunity to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League, where they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League Final.

After the last game of the 2024/2025 English Premier League season, the Reds coach got on the microphone and apologised to the United faithful after a “disaster season” and made a promise to the United fans saying:

“I want to tell you – the good days are coming. If there is one club in the world that can overcome any situation, any disaster, it is our club, Manchester United. I also want to say thank you to my players. Sometimes I am not fair, but I always try to be honest with you. Thank you very much, see you next season.”

At the end of his speech, supporters were left hopeful about the future. But just six games into the new season, reality feels far less promising. United’s only wins have come through a late Bruno Fernandes penalty against newly promoted Burnley and a narrow victory over Chelsea, which required the Blues to play with ten men.

With such unconvincing performances, some fans are beginning to question whether progress under the former Sporting Lisbon boss is genuine, or if his promise of “better days” is simply another false dawn in the post-Ferguson era.

With no commitments in Europe and getting dumped out of the EFL Cup by League Two side Grimsby, one would think Manchester United would have the energy and focus to make their mark in the league. Instead, the Red Devils look short of ideas, lacking consistency, making schoolboy errors, and are already giving fans flashbacks of another season that might head the same direction as last.

Most of the players who had been singled out as the major problem in recent seasons have already been shipped out, yet the same old issues persist. It begs the question: were those players truly the problem, or is the deeper issue rooted in the system, the coaching, and the direction of the club itself?

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Scapegoated at United: Players, Managers, and a Broken System at Old Trafford

Goalkeepers: The First Manchester United Scapegoats

David De Gea

The Spanish goalkeeper, whose catalogue of saves at Manchester United showed him to be one of the best shot stoppers in the league.

David De Gea spent 12 years at the club and won eight trophies, including the EPL and the Europa League. In his prime, De Gea was regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world, earning praise from managers, teammates, and pundits alike for his reflexes, agility, and ability to single-handedly keep United in games.

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho labelled him the best goalkeeper in the world after a record-breaking 14-save performance against Arsenal in 2017.

But after a string of high-profile errors towards the latter stages of his United career, many fans began to cast him as the scapegoat for the team’s defensive shortcomings. By the end of his spell at Old Trafford, the narrative had shifted from world-class saviour to a symbol of mistakes.

Andre Onana

Andre Onana, the replacement for De Gea failed to live up to the hype surrounding his move from Inter Milan in the 2023 summer transfer window. The Cameroonian did not help his cause either, as a series of high-profile mistakes – particularly in crucial Champions League and Premier League matches – quickly eroded confidence and made him a target for criticism.

In the English Premier League, no other goalkeeper made errors leading to a goal as frequently as Onana, who was directly at fault eight times, a statistic that highlighted his struggles to adapt and intensified the scrutiny around him. It also showed fans had an honest case with the player, as a goalkeeper with safer hands would have saved the team and helped them get points.

Manchester United’s legendary goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar, in an interview with talkSPORT, also said he felt Onana was single-handedly being blamed for the mess of the entire team.

Defenders

Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw

While both defenders are still at the club, many wish they weren’t. Both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are Englishmen who have endured hard times at United, having both been made scapegoats in different seasons and on different occasions.

They have both been held responsible for costly mistakes and errors leading to goals, and the defeat to Brentford has shone a negative light on both players, especially Maguire, who had a difficult game.

Most often, both players have found themselves under intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike. Despite flashes of solid performances, their inconsistency has left supporters divided – some argue they’re unfairly targeted, while others feel they simply aren’t good enough for the standards expected at Manchester United.

Midfielders

Paul Pogba

Despite showing flashes of brilliance on the pitch, the burden of being the world’s most expensive player following his £89m move from Juventus in 2016 meant fans and pundits expected him to instantly turn United into title contenders. As a result, whenever Paul Pogba underperformed, he was met with heavy criticism and backlash.

Critics accused him of “switching off” in games or not showing the same fight, discipline and work-rate as other midfielders. His off-field lifestyle also did little to help his case, as it constantly attracted media attention. From his frequent haircuts and partying to his flashy presence on social media, every move was scrutinised.

Coupled with his outspoken agent, who often stirred controversy with remarks about Pogba leaving Manchester United, many fans began to feel his focus was elsewhere – using it as justification for his inconsistent performances.

United, as a whole, endured a difficult transitional period after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, and with Pogba arriving as a then world-record signing – a statement purchase meant to signal a new era – he inevitably became the face of the club’s struggles.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Revered as one of the best players in the world, his second spell at Manchester United was marked by both highs and lows.

Despite finishing the 2021/22 season as the club’s top scorer with 24 goals in all competitions, critics argued that his presence forced the team to play around him. Many claimed his return stifled the progress of younger attackers such as Sancho, Rashford, and Greenwood, reducing their opportunities to flourish.

He was also heavily scrutinised in defeats, with pundits pointing to his reluctance to press or track back defensively – qualities considered essential in modern football. His lack of work-rate off the ball was often cited as a reason United struggled to adapt to a more dynamic, pressing system.

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and later Ralf Rangnick, the board had laid out a long-term vision of rebuilding the squad around younger, energetic players, implementing a high-intensity style, and gradually restoring United to title contention.

The arrival of Ronaldo, however, disrupted that project. When results failed to improve, he was branded a “short-term fix” whose presence derailed the club’s long-term plans.

Jadon Sancho

After arriving at the Theatre of Dreams in 2021 as one of Europe’s most exciting wingers, signed from Borussia Dortmund for over £70m, explosive attacker Jadon Sancho failed to replicate his Bundesliga form and was soon branded a flop. While his numbers at Dortmund had been outstanding, his productivity at United dropped noticeably.

Towards the latter part of his time at the club, tensions boiled over when he clashed with then-head coach Erik ten Hag after being left out of the squad against Arsenal. Ten Hag publicly claimed the winger’s training performances were below standard, but Sancho fired back on social media, accusing the manager of “scapegoating” him.

That public fallout with Erik ten Hag made him another candidate for Manchester United’s next scapegoat as fans turned their frustration towards him.

Alejandro Garnacho

Argentine Alejandro Garnacho was another United player to be used as the fall guy as the club’s deeper issues continue to be masked by individual blame.

Garnacho, who came through the club’s youth ranks, was once the club’s poster boy as he carried the hopes of supporters who saw shades of Ronaldo in his style of play.
But with so much weight on his shoulders, he soon became a victim as fans criticised him for a lack of decision-making in the final third and missed chances, his raw talent overshadowed by the unrealistic expectations placed upon him.

Garnacho, who was removed by head coach Ruben Amorim from the squad’s U.S. pre-season tour in August, had a fallout with the gaffer after his attitude and reaction to being substituted raised questions about his professionalism and commitment.

Managers Post-Ferguson

It’s safe to say that every manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has been cast as Manchester United’s next scapegoat for the team’s poor results. Once dismissed, a new figure is brought in to steady the ship, only for the same cycle to repeat itself.

This endless turnover has created instability at the club, slowing any long-term vision from taking shape and leaving United trapped in a constant state of rebuilding rather than genuine progress.

The latest to feel the heat is Ruben Amorim, who has been in charge of the club for 10 months.

Who Might Be the Next?

After missing the penalty that could have drawn his side level against Brentford, Bruno Fernandes now appears the most likely target of the fans’ frustration.

It was his second missed spot-kick of the season, the first coming against Fulham, and the repeated setbacks have turned many supporters against him.

Conclusion

The cycle of scapegoating players and coaches shows no sign of ending. The recurring issues highlight that the problems run deeper than individuals.

Until Manchester United confronts its structural flaws, establishes a clear footballing identity, and commits to long-term stability, the search for Manchester United’s next scapegoat will persist – while genuine progress remains elusive.