“This is one of the worst Manchester United sides ever,” former Red Devils midfielder Robbie Savage declared as his old side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Monday morning AEST.
Former captain Roy Keane told Sky Sports: “I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were.”
While Arsenal great Paul Merson said on Sky Sports that “It was shocking” from Manchester United and claimed “Arsenal will never have an easier game than that, to be honest”.
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It was United’s ninth defeat this season at Old Trafford, their equal-worst, and a club-record 14th defeat in the Premier League. It was also their 19th defeat in all competitions – their worst since 1978-79 (also 19). The Red Devils have now conceded 82 goals in all competitions this season, their most since 1970/71 (also 82).
The statistics are damning, though United have battled injuries throughout this season. Coach Erik ten Hag said that the team’s injuries – 11 players were absent from the Arsenal game – as explanation for their ongoing struggles.
“Every manager can always do better,” he said after the game. “I have been here two years and only one time had a full group of players.
“It is like swimming with your hands on your back and you have to keep your head above the water level.”
“We have problems, the problems cost us results. But I don’t know where we should be when we have all the players on board,” he added.
“If you have the players on board, you get more points. Especially in the backline, we concede a lot of chances and a lot of goals. Last season, we had the most clean sheets in the Premier League.”
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The injuries meant midfielder Casemiro was deployed at centre-back again, despite a horror individual performance in their 4-0 thrashing by Crystal Palace last time out. The Brazilian great was again poor and was miserably caught out for Leandro Trossard’s goal.
But United aren’t the only team to have struggled with a host of injuries this campaign – and Merson believes that the eighth-placed Premier League team can’t use injuries as an excuse.
As he said on Sky Sports: “It was shocking.
“They just had 145 touches in the final third, and two shots on target. One was from Casemiro from 40 yards which I could have saved it.
“It’s not good enough, you can’t lose nine games at home, this is Manchester United.
“You can have 10 or 11 injuries, Luton have had 10 or 11 injuries. Chelsea have got 10 or 11 injuries, big players like Reece James who is first choice and the captain of the club. And Chelsea are still going to finish above them.”
Keane said: “The disappointment for me, particularly the last half an hour, was Manchester United.
“Arsenal players will be in the dressing room saying ‘how easy was that’ – they hardly got into second gear. They knew when they got their goal and are so solid at the back it was game over. I bet Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad Manchester United were.”
“You look at that last half an hour – the decision making, nobody digging anybody out, people making mistakes and falling over, and everyone just walking away, nobody putting demands on each other,” he added.
“That United team there … they’re so bad.”
New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has taken charge of the club’s football department, was in attendance for the game at Old Trafford alongside members of the ‘Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force’.
It was fitting that they were there today, as the leaky old stadium’s poor condition was exposed by heavy rainfall.
The roof leaked heavily, pouring water down onto the pitch and stands. Cascades of water ran down the steps of some stands. Even the away dressing room was beset by water leaking through the roof.
The task force has been charged with deciding whether to refurbish the ageing ‘Theatre of Dreams’ (though some fans aptly renamed it the Theatre of Streams) or build an entirely new stadium.
It’s just one of many questions facing Ratcliffe as he looks to turn around the club’s fortunes in the off-season.
The future of manager Ten Hag is under a dark cloud, while a squad overhaul is also expected.
When it rains, it pours, so to speak.
Club legend Wayne Rooney was asked on Sky Sports about Ten Hag, and instead pointed to the players as being to blame.
Rooney said: “When you’re losing games in the way they’re losing games, there’s going to be big questions asked.
“I think the players have to look at themselves, when you’ve got a manager talking about attitudes and players not being right to play for Manchester United, that’s a massive insult. If I see my manager saying that, there’s no way I would let that ride and ride until the end of the season.
“I think some players are just trying to get to the end of the season, that’s my opinion on it. So I feel for him, but that’s his job to make sure the players are right.”
Ten Hag is rapidly running out of time to get his players right – and to save his job.
United host Newcastle on Thursday morning AEST before the final-round match with Brighton, and almost certainly need to beat both to finish in the top six and seal a place in the Europa League.
Finishing in seventh means they would play in the third-tier Conference League in Europe next season – unless they can beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday 25 May.
Win that trophy, and Erik ten Hag’s men automatically earn a place in the Europa League.
But even that might not be enough to save Ten Hag’s job.