The 0-1 loss to Arsenal caused internal and Manchester United fans to disagree. The optimistic pointed to Arsenal's 22 shots compared to 8 and the promising connection between Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.
However, the pessimistic side emphasized the "headache" in goalkeeper position, when Altay Bayindir made a mistake that led to Riccardo Calafiori's goal, while Andre Onana continued to lack stability.
"Answering the call is never acceptable. Manchester United had to win. We had good moments, played much better, but the goal is always to win" - Casemiro affirmed after the match.
Just a few seconds after the opening whistle, Mbeumo plunged down the right wing and passed it back to Cunha in line with his teammate's signal. That was a moment that showed the potential for connection between the two new Man United players.
Mbeumo brings speed, sophisticated touching ability, sharp movements and accurate passing vision. Cunha has an explosive style of play, ready to overcome opponents and make a breakthrough when playing as a center forward, creating a difference compared to Benjamin Sesko.
However, both missed many opportunities against Arsenal. If he wants to become a reliable spearhead, his finishing efficiency must certainly be improved.
Meanwhile, Sesko arrived at Old Trafford for £73.7 million, carrying the expectation of becoming a modern centre-forward. The Slovene striker is tall but skillful, agile and handles the ball neatly. In just his 25-minute debut against Arsenal, Sesko showed that quality to some extent.
However, like Mbeumo and Cunha, Sesko will have to prove more. The Red Devils last season scored just 44 Premier League goals - too low for a team hungry to return to the top. If Ruben Amorim does not exploit the new attack effectively soon, he is at risk of becoming the next victim of the "old Trafford black hole".
The match against Fulham this weekend will be Sesko's chance to start and affirm that he is capable of leading the "Red Devils" attack.
At Old Trafford, no player is safe, as just a few bad matches are enough to catch the eye. Amorim has spent more than £200 million on Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko, while still looking for a number 6 and a new goalkeeper.
At the same time, they have a big advantage of not having to compete in the European Cup, so Amorim will have more time to practice and apply his philosophy.
So, what is a reasonable expectation? The requirement for Man United to immediately compete for the top 4 is unrealistic. But returning to the continental arena - through a clear improvement in performance, building an attractive and effective attacking style of play - is a feasible goal.
Last season, Man United won only 11, lost 18, earned 42 points, had a goal difference of -10 and ranked 15th. That number must be reversed if Amorim wants to prove that his reconstruction project has a future.
Amorim's continued reliance on Casemiro over Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo is a warning sign of Man United's fragility in midfield.
Having won five Champions League titles in his career, Casemiro has given Amorim something valuable: experience at the top.
This is a factor that every previous coach from David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Erik ten Hag has longed for but has not been able to take advantage of to bring Man United back to their heyday.
However, if Man United promptly add a new 6 before the transfer window ends, the most reasonable role for Casemiro will probably be from the bench. This is where his experience and professionalism can still become a catalyst for the team.
