Alex Iwobi said Fulham ‘exploited’ two Manchester United players in the Premier League stalemate at Craven Cottage.
Ruben Amorim’s side were on course to record their first win of the new season after Rodrigo Muniz scored an own goal on the hour mark.
But Fulham responded well to going behind and earned a point through substitute Emile Smith Rowe.
Manchester United should have gone ahead in the first half but Bruno Fernandes skied a penalty well over the bar after Mason Mount was dragged down in the box.
The visitors made a bright start in west London, with summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo combining well in the final third.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
But Fulham wrestled back control and arguably finished the game on top against a United team that gradually got worse during the match.
Iwobi praised the ‘resilience’ Fulham displayed and said his teammates were able to ‘exploit’ United’s midfield pair of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
Fernandes played in a deeper role alongside Casemiro at Craven Cottage behind a front-three of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount.
Asked what was most pleasing about Fulham’s draw with Manchester United, Iwobi told Sky Sports: ‘The resilience to come back.
‘We knew that the difference could be made off the bench. It is better to not lose, and we are able to get a good point against a good team.
‘We knew that we would be able to get behind their two midfielders and that their centre-backs would want to jump – we exploited that today.’
Reacting to Iwobi’s comment about Manchester United’s midfield, club legend Rio Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘Wow, that’s not nice is it?
‘Iwobi, that’s not nice is it! Why are you coming with that kind of talk man? Why are you trying to expose us?’
Old Trafford boss Amorim was disappointed by his team’s reaction to going ahead against Fulham, claiming they ‘forgot how we play’.
Man Utd ‘forgot how we play’ – Ruben Amorim
‘I think we scored the goal and then we forgot about how we play,’ Amorim said.
‘We want to win so badly, and that is a good feeling, that we scored a goal and everyone on the pitch was thinking, “Let’s hold onto the advantage and try to win the game”.
‘For me that is the moment that we have to enjoy more and push the opponent. We tried to press the opponent super high and left a lot of space.
‘We have to grow up a lot as a team. For me the most important thing is that during the week they were working really hard, today we worked really hard, and we are going to improve.
‘The moment that changed the game was our goal.’
Like Iwobi, Fulham boss Marco Silva was impressed by the hosts’ performance, especially given they fell behind to an unfortunate opener.
‘The commitment with the plan, the attitude, the will and the desire as well as the players who came in, they made a difference too,’ Silva said.
‘In the first 15 minutes we lost almost all of the duels. They had very good moments with Matheus to score and we had a very good chance with Josh [King].
‘They created some moments from set pieces, they scored and there was a great reaction from the boys.
‘There was a clear foul but great reaction from the boys. I’m proud of the fans and how they were with us.
‘It was important to start with three points at home but we are facing a good team.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.