Introduction

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is acutely aware that he must extract more goals from his forwards to alleviate mounting pressure on his leadership. The Red Devils have had a rocky start to the season, securing just three victories in their first seven matches in all competitions, including a disappointing 1-1 draw against FC Twente. The standout performance from Twente's goalkeeper, Lars Unnerstall, only increased the scrutiny on Ten Hag as he faces a crucial set of fixtures before the upcoming international break.

Upcoming Fixtures

This weekend, United will host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, followed by challenging away games against FC Porto in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Premier League. Currently, Manchester United languishes in 11th place in the Premier League, with only two wins from five attempts. Their offensive production has been alarmingly low, managing just five goals, three of which were scored against a struggling Southampton side.

Team Reliance on Strikers

Team reliance on strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee has been noted, but Steve McClaren, Ten Hag’s former assistant, has stressed that the problem extends beyond the forwards. He pointed out to TNT Sports, "The wingers need to contribute, the midfielders need to contribute." This broader perspective highlights a collective need for offensive input from every area of the team.

Recent Performance

Fans were briefly buoyed by a 3-0 victory over Southampton, followed by a 7-0 demolition of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. However, that optimism quickly evaporated with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace, where players Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes missed critical scoring opportunities, which became a recurring theme against Twente.

Analysis of the Issue

After what was deemed an underwhelming opening to their Europa League campaign, Ten Hag was blunt when addressing the team's main issue: “Not scoring goals, not scoring goals enough. That’s the problem, the key area. We have to score more goals as a team. I think we have players across the team who have the ability to score. That’s clear. You see all the opportunities we are creating, we are not scoring enough.”

Player Performances

Despite starting his United career with a goal against Fulham, Zirkzee has struggled since, failing to find the net in six subsequent appearances, while Hojlund is still recovering from a hamstring injury. When asked if Zirkzee could evolve into a prolific goalscorer for the club, Ten Hag backed him: “Yes, I do. He is young; we see his capabilities. He is a very good link-up player, he’s creative, he’s creating chances. But, to be fair, he also has to work on his finishing.”

Historical Context

Last season was particularly grim for United, as they recorded only 57 goals in the Premier League—the joint lowest among the top 10 teams. In comparison, they scored 20 fewer than Chelsea and a staggering 39 less than rivals Manchester City. As they prepare to host Tottenham on Sunday, Ten Hag’s side will be keen to turn their fortunes around and improve their abysmal scoring record, as discussions swirl about the urgent need for revitalization in their attacking department.

Conclusion

The future of Manchester United hangs in the balance, and fans are left wondering—can Erik ten Hag find the antidote to their scoring woes before it’s too late?