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Manchester United's post-season trip to Malaysia turned out to be as disastrous as their entire league and European campaign has been.
Manchester United’s chaotic 2024–25 campaign found a new low in Kuala Lumpur, where a 1-0 defeat to the ASEAN All Stars served up a fresh dose of humiliation in front of 72,550 fans.
On a humid Malaysian evening, the Premier League giants once again looked anything but elite. Here are five moments from the Maybank Challenge Cup clash that encapsulated the depths of United’s ongoing embarrassment:
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1. Fans Booed at Full-Time — Even 6,600 Miles Away
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Despite the unwavering loyalty of supporters who rarely get to see their heroes live, the final whistle in Bukit Jalil was met with boos. It was a subdued chorus — more disappointment than rage — but it still marked a breaking point for a crowd that had tried to find joy in the occasion. For head coach Ruben Amorim, it was almost welcome.
"The boos from the fans, maybe it is something we need," he admitted post-match as quoted on The Athletic, in a pointed reference to the fan passivity seen at Old Trafford during domestic failures.
2. Casemiro Tried to Flee Medal Ceremony (Again)
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Losing a second final in as many Wednesdays clearly stung. As ASEAN All Stars prepared to lift the trophy, several United players — including Casemiro — made moves to leave the pitch before the presentation was complete.
It took Carlos Fernandes chasing him down to get him back for the medal handout, while David Harrison had to redirect Chido Obi from vanishing down the tunnel. The optics? Disrespectful and desperate to disappear.
3. Garnacho’s Exhaustion and Wild Shot Sums It All Up
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Alejandro Garnacho, who played the second half, tried to inject some flair with flashy dribbles and flicks — including a rabona attempt by Bruno Fernandes.
But more often than not, he looked gassed. In one moment, the young winger sank to his knees in clear fatigue, and later launched a shot high into the Malaysian night sky, symbolizing United’s woeful finishing and overall ineffectiveness in the final third.
4. Myanmar’s Maung Maung Lwin Sliced Through the Defence
The match-winning goal came courtesy of Maung Maung Lwin — the Myanmar captain who plays for Thai side Lamphun Warriors.
He breezed past United’s left flank and coolly beat Tom Heaton, while the defense stood frozen. Even more damaging? It could have been 2-0 if not for a heroic last-ditch tackle from academy debutant Jim Thwaites. This wasn’t Bayern Munich slicing through United — it was a Southeast Asian selection team assembled just for this match.
5. Star-Studded Commercial Tour Overshadowed by Empty Seats and Yawning Players
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The W Hotel check-in was met with fans waiting for hours, only to be largely ignored by jet-lagged players. Garnacho even yawned during a signing session.
While Fernandes and others did their best to interact with fans, the commercial aspect of the tour was glaring. Despite ticket prices ranging from under £8 to £260 — a month’s salary for the average Malaysian — some 12,000 seats remained unfilled.
The trip, more about marketing than football, failed to mask the on-pitch struggles. “We know what we need to do,” said CEO Omar Berrada, alluding to the coming rebuild. But rebuilding from this?
With Matheus Cunha incoming and decisions on players like Liam Delap still pending, Manchester United’s top brass must act decisively this summer.
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