Ruben Amorim has suggested that Chido Obi could be in line for his first Manchester United start in the near future following his eye-catching performance off the bench against Fulham. The 17-year-old provided one of the few bright spots for United in their FA Cup exit, showcasing his potential as a first-team option.

Obi, who joined United from Arsenal last summer, made just his third senior appearance for the club and came close to marking it with a goal. The young forward had three notable opportunities—dragging one shot wide from a tight angle, narrowly missing another from close range, and forcing a strong save from Bernd Leno.

His 52-minute cameo produced more goal-scoring chances than Rasmus Hojlund has managed in 22 Premier League appearances this season. The Danish striker continues to struggle for form, extending his goal drought to 18 matches across all competitions.

With a crucial Europa League tie against Real Sociedad looming, Amorim faces a major selection dilemma. When asked if Obi could replace Hojlund in the starting lineup, the United boss remained open-minded. “Anything can happen in the next games,” he said. “We don’t have much time to train, but we need to assess the opposition and the physical condition of our players. My focus is always on the next match, and I will select the best players to win.”

As United look to rediscover their attacking edge, Obi’s breakthrough moment could be just around the corner

The decision-making process behind Manchester United’s penalty takers has come under scrutiny following their FA Cup exit at the hands of Fulham. Manager Ruben Amorim has shed light on why Victor Lindelof took a pivotal spot-kick and hinted at possible changes to his attacking lineup.

United’s hopes of defending their FA Cup title ended in heartbreak after a dramatic penalty shootout at Old Trafford. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time—courtesy of Bruno Fernandes’ late equalizer following Calvin Bassey’s opener—extra time failed to produce a winner. The subsequent shootout saw Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee miss crucial penalties, allowing Fulham to progress as Bernd Leno denied both attempts.

With Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, and Casemiro all converting their penalties, many were surprised to see centre-back Lindelof take the fourth spot-kick ahead of more attack-minded players. Addressing the controversial choice, Amorim stated, “Victor was extremely confident and has been excellent in training. He’s been scoring consistently in practice, so it was a natural decision.”

Beyond the penalty drama, Manchester United’s striking options remain a growing concern. First-choice forward Rasmus Hojlund extended his goal drought to 18 consecutive games, failing to convert a promising opportunity early in the first half against Fulham. Despite latching onto a low cross from Christian Eriksen, the Danish striker fired wide, struggling to make an impact before being substituted in the second half.

Hojlund’s lack of goals—just seven in 35 appearances this season, with his last strike coming in December—has intensified calls for a change up front. His replacement, teenage talent Chido Obi, offered a lively display in his brief cameo, crafting multiple chances and nearly finding the net in extra time, only to be thwarted by a superb Leno save.

With a crucial Europa League last-16 clash against Real Sociedad and a Premier League showdown with Arsenal looming, Amorim was asked about the potential for a tactical switch in attack. “Anything is possible in the coming games,” he admitted. “We have limited training time, so decisions will depend on our opponents and the physical condition of our players with the tight schedule.”

When pressed on whether United’s squad has enough firepower, the Portuguese manager acknowledged the issue. “Yes, we are struggling to score. Even against Ipswich, we mainly created danger from set-pieces. The key is generating more opportunities, and today we did that. Now, we must improve our finishing to support our forwards and help them regain confidence.”

As the Red Devils navigate a demanding fixture list, Amorim’s next selection decisions could prove crucial in turning around United’s attacking fortunes.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti didn’t hide his frustration following his team’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Real Betis in La Liga on Saturday. With a crucial Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid looming, the Italian coach warned that if his squad replicates this performance, victory will be out of reach.

Madrid initially looked sharp, taking the lead within the first 10 minutes at Estadio Benito Villamarín. Brahim Díaz finished off an impressive attacking sequence involving Kylian Mbappé and Ferland Mendy. However, Betis responded before halftime as Johnny Cardoso equalized with a well-placed header. The comeback was completed early in the second half when former Real Madrid star Isco converted a penalty.

The defeat could have major title race implications, as Barcelona now has the chance to move three points clear if they secure a win against Real Sociedad later in the day. For Ancelotti, however, the bigger concern is how this loss affects Madrid’s mindset ahead of their Champions League last-16 showdown against Atletico at the Bernabéu.

“We started well, but we couldn’t sustain that energy and discipline,” Ancelotti admitted after the match. “We lost control against a team that played better and deserved the win.”

When reminded that Madrid had only collected five points from their last 15 available in La Liga, Ancelotti acknowledged the setback as “a tough blow.”

“We need to respond quickly. At this stage of the season, every defeat is costly because every team is fighting for something,” he said.

Pressed on whether his players lacked a collective effort, Ancelotti was candid: “I don’t know what’s going through their heads. But what I do know is that after the first 20 minutes, where we were well-structured and in control, we completely lost our rhythm. We kept giving the ball away—27 times in the first half alone! That’s unacceptable.”

With Atletico Madrid awaiting them midweek, Ancelotti issued a clear warning: “If we play like this on Tuesday, we won’t win. That much is certain.”

The Madrid boss hopes this defeat serves as a wake-up call for his squad. “Lately, we’ve been organized and compact, but today we lost that completely.”

As for Kylian Mbappé, Ancelotti opted to substitute him early, explaining: “He hadn’t trained much recently and wasn’t at his best. You could see it, so I didn’t want to take any risks. That’s why I brought Endrick on.”

With a massive European clash on the horizon, Ancelotti will be demanding a much stronger performance from his players—one that truly reflects their title ambitions.