'Get rid of Zirkzee & Hojlund' - Furious Man United fans react to FA Cup exit after being penalised by Fulham

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have struggled at Man United. || Imago

'Get rid of Zirkzee & Hojlund' - Furious Man United fans react to FA Cup exit after being penalised by Fulham

Mark Kinyanjui 14:18 - 03.03.2025

Man United fans were far from pleased with their exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Fulham on penalties.

Manchester United’s FA Cup dreams came to a bitter end on Sunday evening as the Red Devils were dumped out in the fifth round by Fulham after a nerve-wracking penalty shootout at Old Trafford. 

Despite winning the coin toss and kicking first in front of the Stretford End, Erik ten Hag’s men failed to hold their nerve, losing 4-3 on penalties after Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed their spot-kicks.

The game had been a frustrating affair for United, who fell behind to a powerful first-half header from Fulham defender Calvin Bassey.

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 Bruno Fernandes restored parity with a stunning long-range effort, but the hosts failed to find a winner in extra time. This latest setback follows a string of disappointing performances, leaving fans seething with frustration.

United’s social media post sparks outrage

In an attempt to rally supporters, Manchester United’s official social media account posted a message on X (formerly Twitter), urging fans to remain united during these trying times.

“We win together and we lose together. Keep your heads up, Reds — thank you for your support once more,” the club wrote.

However, this message did not sit well with the fanbase, who swiftly flooded the replies with their anger and disappointment.

“You lose alone, bro! What do you all mean by this? Always losing and saying the same thing. Win important matches for once,” one fan, @King_Blizzy_, raged.

Another fan, @RedsPerspective, scoffed at the club’s words, replying: “You should just put ‘we lose together.’ You're not winning anything at the moment.”

Fans attack members of the squad

The penalty defeat only intensified calls for a major squad overhaul, with supporters singling out specific players for their lack of impact, especially after young striker Chido Obi Martin performed better in the few minutes he was afforded gametime.

 Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee found themselves under the heaviest scrutiny, with many questioning their contributions.

“Genuinely believe Hojlund is by far the worst PL signing ever. He offers NOTHING. Not a United fan, a United hater even, and he still enrages me. As bad as Zirkzee is, he is 5x the player Hojlund is,” wrote @ShoootnScoree.

Another fan, @UtdBloke_, shared his blunt assessment: “We need to get rid of Onana. No creativity in the team. Uncle Eriksen is doing better than some youngsters. Let’s get Victor Osimhen and get rid of Zirkzee & Hojlund. We are not improving.”

Lindelof’s penalty miss adds fuel to fire

The decision to allow Victor Lindelof to take a crucial penalty also baffled fans, many of whom questioned why he remains at the club.

“One of life's greatest mysteries is how Victor Lindelof is still a Man Utd player,” remarked @RedMarrow_.

Meanwhile, @Utdjacobi_ went further, insisting, “Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw should leave Manchester United ASAP.”

Some supporters pointed out that United’s biggest issue is their inability to score in 90 minutes rather than their failure in the penalty shootout.

“Manchester United not scoring enough goals in 90 minutes is the biggest problem every game. Lindelof taking the penalty was not the problem,” observed @RubenWay_.

With their FA Cup hopes now over, Manchester United must turn their attention to salvaging their season in the Premier League, as well as attempt a run in the Europa League.

However, based on the growing dissatisfaction from their fanbase, patience is wearing thin, and drastic changes may be needed to restore faith in the club’s direction.

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