Manchester United fans have been criticizing one of their players for his underwhelming performance against Nottingham Forest tonight, especially after he had promised to improve before the international break.

The focus has shifted to a particular player—commonly believed to be Joshua Zirkzee—who had publicly pledged to elevate his performance ahead of the international break but failed to meet expectations during tonight’s match.

The criticism grew louder after a game where United fired over 22 shots on goal but couldn’t score, with Zirkzee squandering at least six clear chances, including a glaring miss in front of an open net.

The match, which started at 12:00 PM PDT (8:00 PM BST), saw Nottingham Forest take an early lead through Anthony Elanga, a former United player, who netted a superb solo goal in the first five minutes.

Despite United dominating possession and creating chances—highlighted by Diogo Dalot’s shot hitting the crossbar—fans took to social media and forums to express their frustration, particularly with Zirkzee’s inability to finish.

Manager Ruben Amorim appeared visibly frustrated on the sidelines, reportedly voicing strong criticism towards the underperforming player, whose lack of clinical finishing has left supporters upset. One fan trending on X commented, “Promised us goals after the break, and he’s missed an open net—unacceptable.”

Zirkzee, who was deployed as the lone striker in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation alongside Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, has had difficulty finding consistency this season, with only three goals from 29 Premier League appearances.

Tonight’s game was seen as an opportunity for him to silence critics after his pre-break promise, but his profligacy has reignited calls for Rasmus Højlund, currently on the bench, to reclaim his place in the starting lineup.

The broader context of United’s season adds to the pressure: sitting 13th in the standings with 37 points, the Red Devils are in need of a spark, and fans had hoped Zirkzee would provide it against a Forest team aiming for a historic league double over United, last achieved in 1992.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest’s solid defense and counter-attacking effectiveness—led by Elanga’s speed and Morgan Gibbs-White’s creativity—have kept United from scoring.

As the game nears its end around 2:00 PM PDT, the pressure grows on Amorim to turn things around, but the fans’ anger remains fixed on Zirkzee, whose unfulfilled promise has become the dominant story of the evening.

Whether this marks a turning point in his United career or further alienates him from the fanbase is still to be determined.