Man United season ratings: Bruno Fernandes shines with 9/10 but villain star crashes to woeful 1/10 | OneFootball

There’s no doubt that Manchester United have endured the worst-ever season in their modern history.

United are currently languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, having suffered a dismal 18 defeats, nine of which have come at home.

The Red Devils could finish as low as 17th with a defeat to Aston Villa in their final top-flight game of the campaign on Sunday. United’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final confirmed a trophyless season and ensured they’ll be without European football next term.

After the loss at San Mames, skipper Bruno Fernandes called for accountability, stressing that he and his teammates have to look into the mirror amidst the team’s struggles. These sentiments were echoed by an equally dejected Luke Shaw, who appeared to be on the verge of tears.

Let’s review and rate the individual performances of United’s players over the course of the campaign.

(A score of 6 is around average)

Goalkeepers

Andre Onana – 2/10

He actually started the season on a strong note, producing a series of vital saves that either kept United in matches or prevented the scorelines from becoming truly embarrassing. But he couldn’t keep it up and his performances dramatically nosedived. From that point on, it was one error after another, with several of his blunders turning out to be incredibly costly for the team. The 3-1 defeat to Brighton in January and the first-leg meeting with Lyon at the Groupama Stadium instantly spring to mind. He also didn’t cover himself in glory for Brennan Johnson’s winning strike in the Europa League final. A goalkeeper is meant to be a reliable last line of defence, but he simply hasn’t provided that. In truth, he’s struggled to be a dependable presence ever since arriving at United.

Altay Bayindir – 3/10

He hasn’t fared any better than Onana when given the chance to impress. While he did have that standout performance against Arsenal in the FA Cup, saving Martin Odegaard’s penalty and later denying Kai Havertz in the shootout, that proved to be a rare highlight in an otherwise underwhelming season. He was largely to blame for United’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham and delivered another poor showing in the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park, stepping in while Onana was dropped. Simply put, he hasn’t been good enough in his role as a backup.

Defenders

Victor Lindelof – 5/10

Injuries have restricted him to fewer than 25 appearances in all competitions. While he’s been steady and decent when available, you’d expect a bit more from a long-serving player with his level of experience. Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that this season will be the Swede’s last at United.

Noussair Mazraoui – 6/10

One of the very few United players who’ve maintained a level of consistency throughout the season. He arrived last summer from Bayern Munich for a relatively modest £12.8m fee and he’s certainly been worth that and a lot more. During a season in which United have been plagued by injuries, Mazraoui’s availability has been a blessing, especially considering he’s lined up in both wing-back positions, centre-back and even had a one-match stint in the 10! He hasn’t been perfect by any stretch of the imagination but there are plenty of positives when it comes to the Moroccan.

Matthijs de Ligt – 6/10

Mosty same as Mazraoui. He also joined United last summer from Bayern Munich and has done well. He has of course missed the past few weeks of the campaign with an injury, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s been good. He has seamlessly adapted to Premier League football and some of his rock-solid displays in Europe were crucial in helping United get to the final. It helps that he has also popped up with two goals.

Harry Maguire – 6.5/10

The England international has enjoyed a resurgence this term. Once the butt of all jokes, he is now a key player under Ruben Amorim and one of the leaders in the dressing room. He has looked a lot more like the player United forked out £80m for in 2019. We’ve mentioned De Ligt’s goals and Maguire has scored twice as many as the Dutchman. There is of course no forgetting his superb winner in the dramatic comeback over Lyon. He also bagged the equaliser in the 3-3 draw with Porto.

Lisandro Martinez – 6/10

Endured a difficult start to the season but he enjoyed an uptick in form when Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November. He of course scored that beautiful goal in the draw with Liverpool at Anfield and followed that up by scoring the winner in an edgy 1-0 victory over Fulham. His progress was halted by an ACL injury sustained in February. Hopefully, we have him back just in time for the start of 2025/26.

Tyrell Malacia – 3/10

Returned to action after more than a year out with injuries and unsurprisingly, found it very difficult to make an impact or secure a regular place in the team. He was loaned out to PSV Eindhoven in January, but his spell there has been underwhelming as well, and he now appears set to return to Old Trafford.

Patrick Dorgu – 5.5/10

Signed by United in January, he has shown glimpses of his brilliance and the player he can develop into. While still a raw prospect, there’s plenty to build on – his physicality and power have stood out. However, his attacking contributions have been lacking. He frequently gets into advanced positions, but his decision-making and execution in the final third have been far from convincing and clearly need improvement. With refinement, though, he could develop into a top player.

Leny Yoro – 8/10

One of the rare bright spots in United’s troubled season. Although his start was delayed by an injury picked up in pre-season, he has been remarkably consistent since returning in December, barely putting a foot wrong. A model of composure and calmness. Excellent on the ball and solid defensively. It’s no surprise Real Madrid were eager to sign him before United swooped in to secure his services. In the final, he stood out as the only United player who truly matched the intensity and urgency the occasion demanded. The sky is the limit for the Frenchman.

Diogo Dalot – 5/10

Mixed season for him. He struggled under Ten Hag and continued to make basic, avoidable errors in the early part of Amorim’s reign. Often looked out of place in the wing-back role, seemingly unclear about his responsibilities and what’s expected in that position. But in the weeks before he got injured, Dalot was showing promise and evident signs of improvement. He assisted Alejandro Garnacho’s goal against Newcastle and came up with a few more goal contributions in the Europa League. Hopefully, he picks up where he left off once he returns to full fitness.

Luke Shaw – 3/10

There’s little to say about Shaw other than his ongoing fitness issues once again proved costly for United. He missed a large chunk of the season and only returned late on after a long injury layoff. Since coming back, he hasn’t looked sharp, and his showing in the final against Tottenham was nothing short of disastrous.

Ayden Heaven – 7/10

Another player whose momentum was stalled by injury. United snapped him up from Arsenal in the winter transfer window for just £1 million –  a deal that’s already shaping up to be one of the club’s smartest in recent memory. Much like Yoro, Heaven is exceptional on the ball and exudes confidence under pressure, often thriving in high-intensity moments. His reading of the game is outstanding for someone so young, and he’s not afraid to put in a challenge. With talents like him, United’s future looks promising.

Jonny Evans – 4/10

Just not available nearly enough. Only managed 12 appearances across all competitions.

Harry Amass – 5/10

After what felt like an endless wait under Ten Hag, he finally made his first-team debut. However, it’s been a baptism of fire for the young Amass at senior level. He experienced tough lessons at Newcastle and more recently, Brentford. It hasn’t been all negative. He did have that standout performance against Wolves, which offered a glimpse of his potential and what he’s capable of at this level. Just seems to struggle against physical opponents, which is undoubtedly something he’ll be keen to work on in the summer. It’s worth noting that he won United’s Young Player of the Year award.

Tyler Fredricson – 6/10

Had a fantastic first-team debut against Wolves, even though it ended in a loss. His performance was an exhibition of his superb passing and remarkable composure on the ball. It’ll be interesting to see if United choose to keep him around next season or send him out on loan to gain valuable experience.

Midfielders

Mason Mount – 3/10

Missed a significant portion of the season due to injury – a recurring theme since his move from Chelsea. While he’s a hard worker and clearly someone Amorim values, it counts for little if he’s rarely available. His performance in the Europa League final was especially disappointing –  completely ineffective and offered nothing of value on the night. The highlight of his season is undoubtedly the late brace against Athletic Club to secure United’s spot in the final.

Bruno Fernandes – 9/10

Where would United be without him? Seriously. 19 goals and as many assists across all competitions, won the club’s Player of the Season award and Players’ Player of the Year prize. He’s led by example both on and off the pitch, and it’s unfortunate that many of his teammates haven’t been able to rise to his level or match his commitment.

Christian Eriksen – 4/10

Delivered some crucial goals early in United’s Europa League campaign, but beyond that, his impact has been minimal. In fairness, he hasn’t had much game time, with the majority of his appearances coming off the bench.

Casemiro – 6/10

He was struggling for form before Amorim’s arrival, but the Portuguese manager has managed to bring the best out of him and spark a noticeable improvement. He was one of United’s best players in the Europa League, with his fingerprints all over the comeback over Lyon and finding the net in both legs against Athletic. Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate that influence in the final. Perhaps it’s a sign that the intensity and pace of the Premier League may still be a step too far for him.

Manuel Ugarte – 4/10

A disappointing debut season at United. His biggest shortcoming is his lack of ability on the ball. He consistently avoids taking risks or playing progressive passes, opting instead for safe sideways or backward options. This overly cautious approach has often slowed the team down and limited their attacking momentum. His dreadful defensive lapse in the recent 2-0 defeat to West Ham won’t be forgotten any time soon. After losing the ball in midfield, he inexplicably stayed on his knees as West Ham surged forward and scored. A furious Amorim wasted no time, hauling him off immediately after the goal.

Kobbie Mainoo – 4/10

Massively underperformed. After a fairytale breakthrough last term, he’s failed to build on that momentum. While fitness issues have played a part, they don’t fully excuse some of his poor displays. Despite being tested in multiple roles, he’s struggled to carve out a consistent place in Amorim’s system and has looked lost more often than not. But there’s no denying his talent and potential.

Toby Collyer – 6/10

Hasn’t played that much but when he has, he’s looked OK. Kept it nice and simple and goes about his business with minimal fuss.

Forwards

Rasmus Hojlund – 1/10

He’s fallen short in nearly every aspect of his game. Beyond his poor finishing, awful movement, and lack of attacking threat, he also struggles with the fundamentals of being a striker. His hold-up play is weak, he rarely brings teammates into the game, and his passing is substandard. At this stage, he simply doesn’t look like a Premier League-level striker, let alone one fit to lead the line for United. If there’s a player who sums up United’s disappointing season, it’s the Dane.

Marcus Rashford – 4/10

Like many others on this list, he found it tough going under Ten Hag. Things initially looked promising when Amorim took over. His goal against Ipswich Town and brace against Everton suggested a turning point. However, things quickly soured as he fell out with the manager. That fallout led to his exile from the squad and a loan move to Aston Villa in January.

Joshua Zirkzee – 5/10

He endured a difficult start to life at United, with the nadir coming when he was booed off by his own fans after being substituted in the 33rd minute during the home defeat to Newcastle. The jump to United and Premier League football appears to have caught him off guard. However, he’s shown signs of improvement since being deployed in an attacking midfield role. His touch and footwork are undeniably smooth but he simply doesn’t score enough, which is ultimately what he was signed to do. Still, there are encouraging signs for the future.

Amad  – 7/10

Another big positive. Ten Hag strangely overlooked him but Amorim gave him the platform to express himself and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. In the games he’s played, the Ivorian has been United’s primary source of threat. He has demonstrated a constant willingness to take his man on, and his numbers are also good – 10 goals and nine assists in 42 games. This tally includes his sensational late hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Southampton. If he hadn’t picked up an injury earlier in the year, he would have undoubtedly rivalled Fernandes for the Player of the Season award.

Alejandro Garnacho – 3/10

Ineffective and unconvincing. The explosiveness and flair that made him such an exciting prospect coming through the ranks have been noticeably absent this season. He’s become predictable, making him relatively easy for defenders to handle. However, the most frustrating aspect of his game has been his wastefulness in front of goal. It feels like he squanders at least two clear-cut chances every match. These misses have proven extremely costly for United. Reports suggest that Garnacho may have played his last game for United after his outburst during the Europa League final, which reportedly prompted Ruben Amorim to instruct him to find a new club.

Antony – 3/10

Did absolutely nothing of note at United. Then he packs his bags for Real Betis in January and he has suddenly rediscovered his superpowers. You’d be forgiven for thinking Betis signed a completely different player.

Chido Obi – 5/10

Shown a lot more than Hojlund, even though he’s yet to get off the mark for United. He’s made a handful of appearances and even earned a start, displaying glimpses of real potential. There’s plenty to be excited about with Obi, but at just 17 years old, patience is key as he continues to adjust to the demands of senior football.

Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

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