Manchester United manager’s adherence to formation that worked in Portugal is falling short and everyone knows it

This year, the FA Cup can provide no fig leaf for Manchester United, no veneer to mask a collapse of standards. A fading institution, living off former glories, with no clear plan?

The victorious Fulham manager, Marco Silva, after his 18 months at Everton, ill-starred at the time but superior to what followed under his successors at Goodison, has experience to pass on to Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese’s younger compatriot, in his touchline-crouch special move, went through agonies on the sideline. Though Old Trafford was tough viewing for anyone until the suspense of sudden-death exits and then penalties added a frisson. There, Fulham became worthy passengers to the quarter-finals.