Manchester United 4-0 Crystal Palace: Another night to forget for United
It’s another game to forget for Manchester United.
Crystal Palace thrashed the Red Devils 4-0 on Monday, leaving Erik ten Hag’s team in real danger of missing out on a European spot for next season.
The latest loss leaves them eight in the Premier League and outside the European places – though a victory against Manchester City in the FA Cup final would guarantee a Europa League spot.
United’s latest loss also highlights their ever-growing list of injured senior players. A massive 10 first-team players were out injured for yesterday’s matches.
Premier League table as it stands
How things stand at the end of Matchweek 36 📝 pic.twitter.com/lZZs1haJiF
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 7, 2024
How bad is it going for Man United?
- This is the most defeats United have suffered in a Premier League season (13)
- United have never finished below seventh in Premier League
- Since the start of last season, only Nottingham Forest (five) have lost more Premier League away games by a four-goal margin or higher than United (three)
- The Selhurst Park thrashing was United’s heaviest defeat of the season
- United have conceded 81 goals in all competitions this season, their most in a campaign since 1976-77 (also 81)
- They have not finished a season on a minus goal difference since 1989-90 in Division One. They are currently on -3
- United’s expected goals on Monday was 0.35 – their second worst of the season
Will Erik ten Hag be fired?
Ten Hag’s future at Manchester United could come to an end early – but it’s likely to be decided following the FA Cup final.
Ten Hag still has a year left on his contract.
It’s not been a good season for the Red Devils who have only taken 10 points in the last 11 Premier League games and conceded late goals against Fulham, Brentford, Chelsea, Liverpool and Burnley in that run, costing them 10 points.
But it’s not all on the manager. He is battling against injuries like no other top team is facing.
“This is one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League, that is a fact. Ten Hag needs performances, he needs a belief.
Yesterday’s game saw a substitution bench made up of unknown United academy players – most of which were youngsters.
There’s also the case of the ageing players such as Jonny Evans, 36, and Casemiro, 32, many of whom would suggest its time for them to move on.
Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “This is one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League, that is a fact. Ten Hag needs performances, he needs a belief.
“You have to make us believe there is something there. I would expect Man Utd’s under-23 team not to lose 4-0 like that. I have been coached by some of the top coaches and a lot of what I see here is just wrong.”
Everton’s former United defender Ashley Young, added: “If they put on displays like tonight, they will miss out on Europe.
“If they aren’t willing to at least run about, they will be in trouble. It has been an up-and-down season, but tonight too many players were not at the right level. Palace made it look like men against boys.
“I think it is as bad as it gets.”
pic.twitter.com/8qmBUF4SaY Goal number 9️⃣ for Michael Olise this season! 🦅
How important has the @CPFC star been in his side's recent resurgence?
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 7, 2024
‘I’ll keep fighting for my Job’ – Ten Hag
They host Arsenal next in the Premier League on Sunday, with speculation growing around Ten Hag’s future. Asked by Sky Sports if he was the right person to lead United next season, the Dutchman replied: “Absolutely.
“I will keep fighting and I prepared the team in the best way I could do and it was not good enough, by far not good enough.
“I have to take the responsibility for that, but I will find energy and I will prepare them for Sunday’s game.
“All season, we have huge problems and by now, this is the fourth defeat in this calendar year, so that’s not a lot and every time, we had huge problems and many times, we sort it out. Today, we didn’t.”