He deserves it: Manchester United fans reacts to choice of player for the month of September

He deserves it: Manchester United fans reacts to choice of player for the month of September

Manchester United endured a turbulent September as 3-0 win against Southampton and 7-0 win against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup were followed by disappointing draws against Crystal Palace and Twente. All of these coupled with the disappointing 3-0 loss against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday has seen Erik ten Hag and his men come under fire.

 

In September, only a few players can look themselves in the mirror and be proud of their performances and one of such players is Andre Onana. The Cameroonian shotstopper was phenomenal in September. The double save against Crystal Palace is still fresh in the memory. His saves against Tottenham Hotspur ensured that the scoreline didn’t look more embarrassing. His performance in September has seen him win the club’s Player of the Month award, according to a post on Manchester United’s official website.

 

Christian Eriksen won the club’s Goal of the Month award with his stunner against Twente. The Danish playmaker opened the scoring in the Europa League game which ended 1-1.

 

All attention would now shift to the upcoming games against Porto and Aston Villa before the international break.

 

 

Manchester United’s Europa League opener against Porto ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, but the result could have been different if not for some costly mistakes from key players, according to Manchester Evening News.

 

 

Here are three United players who share the blame for the disappointing outcome:

 

Matthijs de Ligt

 

The Dutch defender’s struggles with positioning and aerial battles were exposed by Porto’s attacking threats. De Ligt’s vulnerability was evident in Porto’s opening goals, particularly Pepe’s strike. His lack of composure and poor decision-making put United’s defense under unnecessary pressure.

 

Lisandro Martinez

 

Martinez’s usually reliable defensive prowess was missing against Porto. He was caught off guard by Pepe’s goal and struggled to contain Porto’s aerial attacks. Martinez’s partnership with De Ligt was unconvincing, leaving United’s goal exposed.

 

Diogo Dalot

 

Dalot’s struggles down the right flank allowed Porto to exploit United’s defense repeatedly. All three of Porto’s goals originated from Dalot’s side, highlighting his inability to contain Porto’s wingers. His failure to track back and provide defensive support left United’s backline exposed.

 

 

While United’s attacking flair and Harry Maguire’s late equalizer salvaged a point, these three players’ mistakes prevented a potentially crucial win.

 

 

According to Caughtoffside, Rasmus Hojlund made an impressive return to Manchester United’s starting lineup, scoring to double the Red Devils’ lead in their Europa League match against FC Porto in Portugal.

 

This marked the first time this season that the 20-year-old was included in Erik ten Hag’s starting eleven, following a series of fitness challenges earlier in the 2024/25 campaign.

 

With mounting pressure on the Dutch coach, ten Hag must have been pleased to start the Danish talent in Portugal, and the decision proved beneficial.

 

 

 

The Premier League club took control of the game early, finding the back of the net within seven minutes, thanks to a well-placed goal from Marcus Rashford. The English forward made a decisive run, capitalizing on space in FC Porto’s defense to calmly slot the ball past the goalkeeper.

 

Just 13 minutes later, Rashford linked up brilliantly with Rasmus Hojlund to double Manchester United’s lead. After receiving a perfectly weighted pass from Rashford, Hojlund burst forward with pace, demonstrating his sharpness and clinical finishing as he calmly converted the opportunity. The 20-year-old Danish striker, who had been absent for much of the 2024/25 season due to fitness issues, showed Manchester United supporters exactly what they had been missing. His well-timed movement and composure in front of goal were a welcome sight for the Red Devils, who have been searching for consistent attacking options amid their early struggles in the season.

 

 

This early two-goal advantage put FC Porto on the back foot, forcing the Portuguese side to chase the game and leaving more space for Manchester United’s attacking players to exploit. The return of Hojlund to the lineup provided a much-needed boost for Erik ten Hag’s side, as the pressure on the Dutch coach has been steadily mounting due to inconsistent results. With Hojlund’s dynamic play and Rashford’s creativity, the Red Devils looked far more dangerous going forward.

 

Erik ten Hag would have been thrilled to see his side start with such intensity, especially in a crucial Europa League clash. The early goals set the tone for the match, easing some of the pressure on the coach and giving Manchester United the platform to control the rest of the game. Fans will now be eager to see more from Hojlund as he works his way back to full fitness and becomes a key figure in their attack.