Manchester United’s start to the new Premier League season has been underwhelming, with a defeat against Arsenal followed by a frustrating draw at Fulham.
Pressure is already mounting on Ruben Amorim, who is desperate to get his first win of the campaign when Burnley arrive at Old Trafford this weekend.
New signings are still trying to settle in, while questions remain about whether United’s squad is balanced enough to climb the table.
Fans have voiced concerns about a lack of identity and consistency, and patience is already running thin after last year’s disastrous 15th-placed finish.
As if the poor results were not enough, another issue has now emerged — one that strikes at the very core of Manchester United’s history.
For the first time since records began, the club has failed to give a Manchester United academy graduate a single minute of football in their opening two league matches, as reported by Benjamin Hunt via X.
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This historic record stretches back before the Second World War, making the current situation all the more shocking.
United’s academy has always been regarded as one of the strongest in world football, producing legends from the Busby Babes to the Class of ’92, and more recently providing stars like Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.
The tradition of youth development has been a badge of honour, setting United apart from their rivals.
Even in the club’s most difficult eras, academy products were always present on the pitch — until now.
Amorim’s decision to rely solely on senior players and new signings has therefore created uproar among supporters.
During pre-season, several youngsters were tipped to feature more regularly, yet none were trusted with minutes when the competitive fixtures arrived.
Instead, Amorim has doubled down on experience in an attempt to steady the ship, but this has inadvertently brought an unwanted spotlight onto his reign.
With Burnley up next at Old Trafford, all eyes will be on whether the manager reintroduces the Manchester United academy presence that has been a lifeline for the club’s identity.
The breaking of such a symbolic record has left fans questioning not just the results but also the values of the team under Amorim’s leadership.
Sunday’s draw with Fulham left Amorim carrying a damning record, as the 40-year-old has now managed more Premier League games than points collected across his last 29 fixtures.
Another week without youth representation could see the criticism intensify further, compounding the pressure on a manager already fighting to prove he belongs in the Old Trafford dugout.
This is the first time since records began that #MUFC have failed to give an academy product a single minute in the opening 2 league fixtures. Spanning back to pre war times.
When people ask about Man United’s playing identity. The truth is across all managers and periods, we… pic.twitter.com/iTu3Sgb276
— Benjamin Hunt (@JustAFootyFan_) August 24, 2025
