Ruben Amorim Slammed Over ‘Staggering’ Benjamin Sesko Decision as Bruno Fernandes Misses Penalty in Manchester United’s Draw with Fulham

Manchester United’s search for a first Premier League win of the season continues after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday – a match that left fans and pundits questioning both Ruben Amorim’s team choices and Bruno Fernandes’ costly penalty miss.

United, who had lost their opening game of the campaign 1-0 against Arsenal, looked to have bounced back when they went ahead on the hour mark thanks to a Rodrigo Muniz own goal. But Fulham hit back just 13 minutes later through Emile Smith Rowe, leaving both sides frustrated with a single point apiece.

The biggest talking point, however, came earlier in the match when captain Bruno Fernandes wasted a golden opportunity to give United the lead from the penalty spot. Fernandes, normally reliable from 12 yards, blasted his effort high over the bar – a miss that would prove costly as United failed to turn dominance into victory.

Speaking after the game, Gary Neville admitted Fernandes’ mistake changed the whole mood of the match. “Bruno has been one of the best penalty takers in Europe in recent years. But when you miss in a moment like that, away from home, it lifts the opposition and makes life harder for your own team. United never really recovered their momentum after that,” Neville explained on Sky Sports.

While Fernandes faced the heat for his penalty miss, it was Amorim’s decision to once again leave £74million summer signing Benjamin Sesko on the bench that sparked the fiercest criticism. Sesko, who joined from RB Leipzig with a big reputation, has yet to start a Premier League game for his new club.

Amorim defended his call before kick-off, telling reporters: “Benjamin has been with us for just two weeks, he’s still trying to understand everything. We need to be patient. He’s an important player for the future, but right now we just want to win matches and help all our players adapt.”

That explanation did little to convince pundits, with former Scotland striker Andy Gray describing the decision as “staggering.”

“I don’t get it. I am flabbergasted,” Gray said on beIN SPORTS. “I moved to clubs for big money during my career and I didn’t need three or four weeks to understand the team. Sesko is an international forward, he’s played in the Bundesliga, and he cost over £70m. Are you telling me he can’t start for Manchester United?”

Gray went further, insisting that fans deserve to see their marquee signing leading the line. “If you’re a United fan, you want Sesko up there with Cunha and Mbeumo. He’s had a full pre-season, he’s fit and ready. I just don’t get it.”

The match itself was finely balanced. United had the better chances in the first half – including Fernandes’ penalty and a Matheus Cunha opportunity that went begging – but Fulham finished the game stronger, with Smith Rowe’s equaliser sparking a spell of pressure from the hosts.

Clinton Morrison summed it up neatly on BBC Radio 5 Live: “It was even in the second half but in the last 15-20 minutes Fulham were the better team. Their substitutions had more impact. A draw is probably a fair result, though United might feel differently because of the penalty miss and a couple of good chances earlier on.”

For United, the result leaves them sitting with just a single point after two games – hardly the start Amorim would have wanted as he begins life at Old Trafford. For Fulham, it was another solid performance, though they too are still searching for their first win of the campaign.

Looking ahead, Manchester United will try to regroup quickly as they prepare for an EFL Cup clash against Grimsby Town on Wednesday night. Fulham, meanwhile, travel to Bristol City in the same competition.

But as things stand, the pressure is already starting to build on Amorim. With fans eager to see Sesko unleashed and Fernandes under the microscope for his missed penalty, questions about United’s attacking sharpness are unlikely to go away any time soon.