Manchester United’s 15th-place finish in the Premier League last campaign was a glaring example of the mess the club have found themselves in over recent years.
Ruben Amorim was unable to have the desired effect after taking the reins 12 months ago, as seen by their unacceptable standing in England’s top-flight during 2024/25.
However, his side have shown glimpses of their quality over the last few weeks, subsequently enjoying a four-game unbeaten run – the joint best of the manager’s tenure.
Players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have all stepped up and produced goods, with the trio being involved in the vast majority of their recent efforts.
The same can’t be said for one other first-team member, with questions now starting to be asked about his long-term future under Amorim at Old Trafford.
Diogo Dalot’s decline at United in 2025/26
Just a couple of seasons ago, full-back Diogo Dalot would have been one of the first names on the United teamsheet to many supporters – but he’s massively failed to reach such heights in recent months.
Amorim’s arrival saw the wide switch to a 3-4-2-1 system, which placed a huge emphasis on wing-backs who are able to get up and down – allowing for a positive impact at both ends of the pitch.
However, such a formation doesn’t suit the Portuguese international’s playstyle, with the 26-year-old a more defensive option – as seen by his tally of eight goals in 148 appearances.
His latest outing against Nottingham Forest highlighted his lack of impact, featuring for 68 minutes before being the first Red Devils player to be replaced.
His withdrawal was warranted when delving into his underlying stats, with Dalot being unable to complete any of his attempted dribbles or crosses at the City Ground.
The full-back also only managed to win three of the eight duels he entered, often struggling to deal with the threat posed by Reds winger Dan Ndoye on Saturday.
The United star who’s becoming a bigger problem than Dalot
Given their current unbeaten run in the Premier League, it may come as a surprise to many to see numerous players disappoint and fail to contribute to their recent revival.
However, like Dalot, multiple first-team members have come into question for their lack of impact and disappointing showings over the last couple of game weeks.
Patrick Dorgu was once seen as the starting left-back after his £30m switch last January, but he’s since been dropped to the bench and had to settle for substitute appearances in each of the last four games.
The Dane may now be handed his chance to shine in the weeks ahead, especially after the poor performances produced by Dalot during the winning spree.
Benjamin Sesko was just one of the big-money additions made by the Red Devils hierarchy during the summer, forking out a staggering £74m to RB Leipzig for the centre-forward’s signature.
The Slovenian arrived with huge expectations at Old Trafford after netting 21 goals across all competitions last season, but it’s safe to say he’s yet to reach such heights in the Premier League.
He may have already netted twice in his first 11 appearances, but like Dalot, he failed to deliver and has now gone three games without a goal after scoring two in a row.
Sesko’s showing against Forest last weekend was yet another to forget, as he only registered 21 touches of the ball – the fewest of any player on the pitch.
He also only managed to complete nine passes and lost 100% of the duels he entered – leading to one analyst labelling his showing against Sean Dyche’s side as “anonymous”.
Minutes played
90
Touches
21
Passes completed
9
Duels lost
100%
Shots on target
0
Possession lost
7x
Dribbles completed
0
Chances created
0
The 22-year-old’s lack of impact was highlighted in his inability to direct any of his efforts on target, subsequently failing to provide the clinical edge Amorim requires in front of goal.
Whilst he’s shown glimpses of his quality to date, it’s clear he’s lacking confidence in attacking areas, which no doubt will be a huge concern to the manager.
Given the amount spent on his signature, many will have been expecting a rapid start to life at Old Trafford, but up to now it’s not meant to be, with Sesko needing to find his feet quickly to avoid being the next in a long line of failed signings at United.