Another week rolls in, and with it, another disappointing setback for Manchester United in the Premier League. On Sunday, Ruben Amorim’s squad narrowly missed out, losing to Tottenham Hotspur by just one goal.
This marks the team’s 12th league defeat this season, a grim statistic not seen since the 1973/74 season—a loss streak that ended with their relegation. Many of the star players fell short of expectations, with Andre Onana once again being criticized for not securing the goalpost. Casemiro, brought on to cover for injured midfielders, struggled to keep up with the pace.
Adding to their woes, Rasmus Hojlund’s goal drought has now stretched to 15 games. One might have expected the Portuguese coach to try injecting some fresh energy from the youthful bench in search of a spark.
But Amorim held back, showing a cautious approach. He only introduced academy talent Chido Obi during injury time, giving the 17-year-old barely any opportunity to make an impact. Despite the loss, Obi’s league debut was a gleam of hope on an otherwise overcast day for the club. The young Dane became the 252nd academy graduate to earn a spot on the first team.
Obi later shared his thoughts on Instagram with an optimistic post despite the loss, expressing gratitude towards the coach and club for fulfilling a dream for him and his family.
At just 17 years, 2 months, and 18 days, Obi is now the club’s third-youngest Premier League debutant, following behind Angel Gomes and Shola Shoretire. In his message to the fans, he expressed his disappointment with the result but conveyed his thanks to Amorim for a memorable debut.
Considering Hojlund’s struggles, it was inevitable that Amorim would turn to Obi. The young striker has been exceptional in the academy circuit, scoring 12 goals in as many games, with seven of those in just three FA Youth Cup matches. Most recently, he impressed with a hat-trick against Chelsea, a performance that had supporters eager to see him on the big stage.
Following the match, Amorim acknowledged the potential of Obi, pointing out his knack for being a threat in the penalty area. Fans are hopeful that this marks the beginning of more opportunities for the young talent in upcoming games.
Feature image by Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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