Despite Manchester United’s ongoing struggles – it is sitting 14th in the Premier League with only five goals and eight points in seven matches – some individual performances still deserve recognition.
September saw the Red Devils play six matches across all competitions (2W, 2D, 2L), and here are the five standout players for the club during this challenging month:
5. Matthijs de Ligt
Manchester United signed de Ligt from Bayern to solve their defensive issues. The young Dutch center-back was involved in every match except against Twente. He even scored a goal against Southampton in a 3-0 victory, earning an 8.6 rating.
De Ligt has given Manchester more prowess in set pieces and aerial duels. He also positions well and defends efficiently against agile forwards.
Under ten Hag, he has become a regular starter, but United’s defensive struggles continue. Still, he did not allow grave errors in defence and made it to our list.
4. Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes did not miss a single match for Manchester United in September. The Portuguese captain delivered three assists in total against Barnsley and Southampton, respectively.
However, he also had a dismal game against Tottenham. In the first half, he was sent off with a direct red card following a clumsy challenge on James Maddison.
While not being as productive as usual, Bruno’s contribution to the team is always noteworthy. He dictates the rhythm of the game, and the majority of United’s attacks are due to his involvement.
3. Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen is gradually entering the twilight of his career, but the Danish midfielder’s pure skills make him one of the best players of his generation.
Eriksen scored three goals in September. Two of them came against Barnsley in the EFL Cup and the third one against Twente in the Europa League. The latter was awarded Manchester United’s Goal of the Month.
Eriksen, paired with Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield, controls the ball and delivers passes to the attackers. Despite the Red Devils’ poor performance, the Danish footballer still delights spectators with his exquisite play.
2. Alejandro Garnacho
The young Argentine winger has become a regular starter for Manchester United. Garnacho, 20, has found the back of the net three times in September, netting a brace against Barnsley and scoring in the last minute against Southampton.
Garnacho got a 9.4 rating against Barnsley, tied with Marcus Rashford. Apart from a dominant performance and two goals, he also had an assist.
Garnacho is often criticized for his inconsistency, but considering his age, the starlet has plenty of time for improvement. He stands out for his creative plays in the offence while producing big chances in the penalty area.
1. Andre Onana
If there is one player that deserves first place in September, it would be Andre Onana. Often criticized for simple mistakes, Onana’s mastery has saved the Red Devils many points.
In addition, Manchester United fans have also voted Andre Onana as the best player of the month, an award he also won in March 2024, with 47% of those polled voting for him.
Onana started 5 of United’s 6 matches in September, keeping two clean sheets and being named Man of the Match once against Crystal Palace. Moreover, he saved a crucial first-half penalty against Southampton, in a match that the Red Devils eventually won convincingly.
