More Old Trafford Misery for Manchester United Hojlund Struggles and Yoro Injury Sours Defeat to West Ham

United Suffer Historic Home Defeat to West Ham as European High Fades Fast

Just days after the jubilation of reaching the Europa League final, Manchester United were handed a harsh reminder of their domestic woes. A 2-0 defeat to West Ham at Old Trafford—United’s first home loss to the Hammers in 18 years—was a bruising reality check. The Premier League table paints an even more troubling picture, with the Red Devils slipping to 16th place, closer to the bottom than the top.

What should have been a celebratory afternoon became a catalogue of errors, missed chances, and growing concerns, capped off by the devastating injury to rising star Leny Yoro. The young French defender, such a bright spark in recent weeks, limped off in clear distress early in the second half. His tears on the touchline, consoled by Harry Maguire, spoke volumes—he almost certainly won’t be fit for the Europa League final in Bilbao against Tottenham on May 21.

Wan-Bissaka Shines Against Former Club as West Ham Capitalise

United fans may have feared a hangover after Thursday night’s triumph in Europe, but few would have expected such a flat, disjointed display. Credit must go to West Ham, who executed their game plan with composure and confidence, led by none other than former United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

It was Wan-Bissaka’s clever reverse pass that sliced open United’s defence in the first half, allowing Tomas Soucek to ghost in and fire home the opener. He then turned provider again, squaring unselfishly for Jarrod Bowen to double the lead after the break. A goal and an assist against your old club—it was a day to remember for the much-maligned defender.

For United, it was the same old story. Possession without penetration, defensive lapses, and a lack of leadership. Ruben Amorim’s side have looked like a team pulled in multiple directions all season long, and this performance did little to inspire faith ahead of their European final.

Rasmus Hojlund Fails to Fire – Again

Manchester United player ratings vs West Ham, Noussair Mazraoui tired 3/10 star played his worst game for the club so far

Much has been made of Rasmus Hojlund’s rollercoaster debut campaign. For every moment of promise, there has been an equal measure of frustration. Sunday was one of those frustrating afternoons. The Danish striker had three clear opportunities to score but fluffed his lines each time, looking bereft of confidence and sharpness.

His recent goal against Athletic Club seemed like it might mark a turning point, but it proved another false dawn. Without consistent service and seemingly short of belief, Hojlund is struggling to live up to the weighty expectations that accompanied his big-money arrival.

Beside him, Mason Mount had a relatively quiet outing, despite showing flashes of intent. One well-placed pass to Hojlund aside, Mount was unable to recreate the energy and impact he brought off the bench in midweek.

Player Ratings: Familiar Frustrations and Fading Stars

Goalkeeper & Defence

Altay Bayindir (5/10): Not directly responsible for either goal but did little to instil calm. United fans are counting the days until Onana returns.

Noussair Mazraoui (5/10): Was outfoxed by Wan-Bissaka and looked leggy throughout. Failed to offer any attacking threat.

Leny Yoro (6/10): Composed on the ball but showed naivety in the build-up to the first goal. His injury is the real blow—United’s defence is far weaker without him.

Luke Shaw (5/10): Anonymous for much of the match. Suybbed early in the second half after offering little on either end.

Midfield

Amad Diallo (7/10): The only player in red who looked like he cared. Sharp, inventive, and dangerous—he was unlucky not to score and remains a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy season.

Manuel Ugarte (4/10): His error in possession gifted West Ham their second goal. Lost battles in midfield and looked overwhelmed.

Kobbie Mainoo (5/10): Showed composure at times but failed to dictate play. Will need time to develop, but this was a learning experience.

Harry Amass (4/10): Still raw and it showed. Soucek overpowered him for the opener, and he lost possession too often.

Attack

Bruno Fernandes (5/10): Lacked his usual spark. Perhaps fatigue is catching up with him, but the captain couldn’t rally his team.

Rasmus Hojlund (4/10): Confidence is shot. Missed three golden chances and cut a frustrated figure all afternoon.

Mason Mount (5/10): Couldn’t build on Thursday’s cameo. One nice assist aside, his performance faded into the background.

Subs & Manager

Harry Maguire (6/10): Brought some much-needed physicality and nearly scored with a header. Led by example during Yoro’s injury.

Victor Lindelof (5/10): Came on but couldn’t stem the tide. Failed to shut down Bowen for the second goal.

Alejandro Garnacho (6/10): Added urgency on the flank but didn’t get much to work with.

Patrick Dorgu (5/10): Tried to make an impression but was largely ineffective.

Christian Eriksen (N/A): Introduced too late to influence the game.

Ruben Amorim (5/10): Facing tough questions now. With nothing to play for in the league, resting Yoro might have been wiser. Another dispiriting home defeat doesn’t help his case for staying long-term.

The Bigger Picture: One Eye on Bilbao, But Domestic Woes Grow

There’s a creeping sense of déjà vu at Old Trafford. A promising cup run masking a faltering league campaign, players struggling for consistency, and key injuries at the worst possible time. United’s 17th defeat of the season is more than just a statistic—it’s a symbol of a team in flux, unsure of its direction.

Ruben Amorim has brought flashes of excitement in Europe, but Sunday’s defeat underlined just how far this squad is from competing week in, week out at the highest level. With Yoro likely out for the final, and doubts still hanging over the likes of Hojlund, Ugarte, and Mount, there’s a lot to fix—and not much time.

The Europa League final remains a lifeline. Win it, and United can end a sorry season on a high and return to the Champions League. Lose it, and the post-mortem will be brutal.

For now, the mood is bleak. And the Theatre of Dreams continues to offer more nightmares than magic.