SUMMARY
- Manchester United's horror season continues as they lose to Crystal Palace 4-0 in the Premier League.
- United is currently at the risk of losing out on qualifying for Europe in the upcoming season.
When Erik ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford in 2022 and was unveiled as the new head coach of Manchester United, he made a bold claim. Ten Hag claimed that his Manchester United side would be the one to end Manchester City and Liverpool’s duopoly on the Premier League title, stating “an era can come to an end.” However, with Ten Hag now close to completing his second year at the club, his words have now come back to haunt him.
Under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United haven’t even come close to challenging title for the Premier League. Instead, the Dutch coach has continued to etch some of the worst records possible at the ‘Theatre of Dreams‘. Ten Hag has already managed to set some of the most abysmal records in club history and set some more during Manchester United’s 4-0 thrashing against Crystal Palace on Monday.
📉 Man United have conceded 𝟖𝟏 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬, the highest total in club’s history since 1976-77 🔴🤯
For the first time in history, Manchester United have lost 13 games in a single Premier League season. pic.twitter.com/6oaClBoh79
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 6, 2024
The Red Devils traveled to Selhurst Park on Monday afternoon to face Crystal Palace who have been playing some excellent soccer of late. It was Manchester United’s top transfer target, Michael Olise, who scored a brace while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell grabbed the other goals. It was a night to forget for Ten Hag’s men who slipped to eighth in the Premier League table.
It was Manchester United‘s 13th league defeat of the season, the worst domestic performance in the club’s history. Moreover, following the defeat against Palace, United have now conceded 81 goals this season, the highest in the last 47 years since the 1976-77 season. United’s goal difference in the league has now dropped to negative three, having conceded 55 goals in the league and scoring just 52.
Erik ten Hag slams Manchester United’s youngsters after heavy Crystal Palace defeat
Erik ten Hag didn’t appear to mince his words in the post-match interview after Manchester United’s 4-0 mauling against Crystal Palace. Ten Hag laid into his players for their lackluster performances and especially called out the younger players. He said, “I know we have young players but even young players should learn when they play in the first team they should take responsibility there.”
Ten Hag admitted that United conceded goals rather too easily against Crystal Palace and labeled the game as the “worst defeat” of this season. While the former Ajax coach admitted that his players were forced to play out of their preferred positions due to the club’s injury woes, it doesn’t excuse their poor performance, and blamed his players for failing to cover each other and not adhering to the game plan.
Erik ten Hag remains confident about his future despite loss against Crystal Palace
With the 2023-24 season nearing its end, questions have started to pile up against Erik ten Hag’s management of the club. After the club’s heavy defeat against Palace, the United fans have once again started to ask whether Ten Hag is the right person to lead the club. However, the veteran Dutch coach didn’t appear to be affected at all by the negative comments and looked even more confident than before about his future at the club.
🔴 Erik ten Hag: “Absolutely, I am the right manager to turn things around”.
“If the right players are available then we have a good squad. But when we miss almost our entire backline then we have problems”. pic.twitter.com/7yc7hz3KlY
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 7, 2024
Ten Hag said in the post-match interview, “Absolutely, I am the right manager to turn things around.”
He further pinned the blame for the club’s poor run of results on the long injury list of Manchester United. While there hasn’t been any statement yet about Ten Hag’s future at the club, reports suggest that the club management wants the 54-year-old coach to continue at the club next season.