Manchester United fired off more than 22 attempts trying to find the net against Nottingham Forest, with one player squandering around six clear opportunities without scoring. Ruben Amorim was visibly frustrated, publicly calling out a Manchester United star for failing to convert even once, despite facing an unguarded goal on multiple occasions.X

In a match that kicked off at 12:00 PM PDT (8:00 PM BST), United launched over 22 attempts on Forest’s goal but couldn’t score, with one player—believed to be Joshua Zirkzee—facing heavy criticism for missing about six clear chances. Manager Ruben Amorim lost his temper in the second half, caught on camera visibly scolding the underperforming striker for failing to take advantage, even with an open net on multiple occasions.

The game began with an early blow for United, as former academy player Anthony Elanga broke free to score a brilliant solo goal for Forest in the first five minutes, quieting the away supporters.

Although United fought back—Diogo Dalot hitting the crossbar with a header and Bruno Fernandes pulling the strings in midfield—their inability to convert chances remained the main theme of the match.

Zirkzee, playing as the central figure in Amorim’s attack, squandered several opportunities, including a close-range shot directly at Matz Sels and a header that went wide from six yards. Fans took to X in anger, with one popular post reading, “22 shots, six sitters, and Zirkzee can’t hit the target—Amorim’s got every right to lose it.”

Amorim’s visible anger highlighted a bigger issue for United, who are in 13th place in the Premier League with 37 points and urgently need a turnaround.

Earlier in the season, the Portuguese coach had praised Zirkzee’s potential, but tonight, he didn’t hold back, gesturing wildly and reportedly shouting at the striker after yet another missed chance.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest relied on their third-best defense in the league, soaking up the pressure and posing a threat on the counter through Elanga and Morgan Gibbs-White.

As the clock neared 2:00 PM PDT, United’s wastefulness threatened to hand them a second loss to Forest this season—something that would give Forest their first league double over United since 1992.

For Zirkzee, it has been a personal disaster, intensifying calls from fans for Rasmus Højlund to replace him. His three goals in 29 appearances this season fall short of expectations, and tonight’s performance may test Amorim’s trust in him even more.

With the final whistle approaching, United’s 22 shots could mean nothing if they fail to score late, leaving Amorim and his misfiring striker to face the wrath of an angry fanbase.