Manchester United slumped again in the Premier League, this time falling 2-0 at home to West Ham United in a match that underlined their disappointing domestic season.
After a midweek high in Europe, where United breezed past Athletic Bilbao to reach the Europa League final, they came crashing back to reality at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim’s side looked disjointed and lacked urgency throughout the game. While fans had hoped for a momentum boost after Thursday’s victory, they instead witnessed another frustrating league performance. Amorim admitted afterward that his team “can’t save anything from the Premier League,” a blunt summary of a campaign riddled with inconsistency and poor form.
West Ham, who had not won in their last eight league games, looked the sharper side from the outset. Their efforts paid off in the 26th minute when midfielder Tomas Soucek tapped in from close range following a well-placed cross from Mohammed Kudus. The goal visibly deflated United, who failed to respond with any real threat going forward.
To add to United’s troubles, young French defender Leny Yoro was forced off in the second half due to a foot injury. The timing couldn’t be worse, with the Europa League final against Tottenham looming on May 21. His availability for that crucial match is now in doubt.
The Hammers doubled their lead in the 57th minute after Jarrod Bowen took advantage of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s misplaced pass and calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper. From that point, West Ham maintained control and saw out the game with little difficulty.
The result moves West Ham above Manchester United in the standings, pushing Amorim’s side down to 16th—perilously close to the relegation zone. If the season ends this way, it would mark their worst league finish since their infamous relegation in 1973-74.
With just a few games left, United’s only remaining hope lies in Europe. The Premier League, as Amorim notes, has become a lost cause.
