Under the spotlight for several weeks – particularly linked to the controversies surrounding Jadon Sancho and Antony – Manchester United continues its slow descent into hell at the start of the 2023-2024 financial year. Despite two victories against Wolverhampton and Nottingham Forest, Erik ten Hag’s men have just conceded their third setback of the season. The second in a row. In front of their supporters this Saturday, the Red Devils once again lost their footing (1-3) against Brighton, confirming their good momentum with a third place in the Premier League. Yes, but here it is, if the Seagulls, buoyed by the achievements of Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and João Pedro, were full of confidence before meeting AEK Athens in the Europa League, United, for their part, got bogged down in a deep crisis.
Manchester United breaks sad records…
Most certainly stirred by the extra-sporting affairs linked to its two aforementioned wingers, Manchester United did not present themselves in an ideal context against Roberto De Zerbi’s gang. A deleterious climate which was logically felt on the pitch at Old Trafford. Aligned in 4-2-3-1 with Rasmus Hojlund at the forefront, just ahead of Marcus Rashford, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes, the Mancunian club did not take long to submit to the law of Brighton and Danny Welbeck, decisive shortly after the end of the first quarter of an hour (20th). Too shaky defensively, despite the Seagulls’ generally timid start, United were logically punished upon returning from the locker room when Gross scored a nice number (53rd). With their heads underwater, the Red Devils sank definitively when João Pedro decided to clear the top corner of a helpless Onana (71st). The reduction in the score of the young midfielder, Hannibal Mejbri, changed nothing (73rd).
Another painful defeat for the team coached by Erik ten Hag. And for good reason. By losing three of his first five Premier League matches, Casemiro’s teammates achieved a record that everyone at the “Theater of Dreams” would have been happy with since it is a great first in the history of the club. A question then arises: could it be otherwise given the new indigestible performance of the Red Devils. Absent in intensity, guilty of enormous technical waste (110 balls lost in total) and a lack of offensive realism (4 small shots on target out of 14 attempts), United could only sink. Note also that for the first time since 1979, the Red Devils have conceded more than one goal in four consecutive championship matches (10 goals conceded in the last four matches…). Another symbol of this new rout, the poor performance of Bruno Fernandes.
An unbreathable context before Munich?
Usually considered the master player of this Mancunian team, the Portuguese international was never able to get his team out of the rut in which they were mired. The MU captain alone lost 23 balls! A disastrous figure perfectly summarizing the crisis of confidence currently being experienced by Erik ten Hag’s men. Questioned at the final whistle, Eriksen then logically displayed his dismay. “It is heavy. We have to look at ourselves. We changed some things but we are disappointed. In the first half we had a lot of moments, we had good control. They had a lot of possession but not many chances. They then score with their first chance and the system they play, they keep the ball a lot and we had to chase it. But we still had a chance of getting back into the match.”declared the 31-year-old Dane in particular before discussing the adjustments to be made to get back on track.
“It’s the little things. We had offside at Arsenal and today we scored but it was offside. The little things we miss and a bit of luck to get over the line and get something out of the effort we put in . Any game early in the season, no matter who you play, is very important. We focus on our game and no matter who we play, we want to win. But we have already lost three and we have to change that., also regretted the former Inter Milan midfielder. Questioned, for his part, about this new debacle, Erik ten Hag preferred to opt for optimism. “Very disappointed with the result. We played pretty well in the first half with many chances, but we had two setbacks, starting with their goal and then the disallowed goal. Did the new system work? Absolutely. The first 20 minutes were very good. You have to stick to the plan (despite the goal) because it worked well. We had a lot of chances”assured the Batavian before praising the match of several of his protégés.
“Hannibal Mejbri did what we brought him in to do. He had an impact, brought energy. Diogo Dalot played very well, Rashford too, Rasmus Hojlund was a threat, there were good players on the pitch, but we didn’t get the result we wanted. We have to analyze this match and see where we need to improve and then we will think about the next match.. One thing is certain, this new disappointment darkens the sky a little more over Manchester, twelfth in the Premier League, and the future of Erik ten Hag on the United bench. Next Wednesday, on the pitch of Bayern Munich – on the occasion of the first day of Group A of the Champions League – the Dutch technician will then have to prove that he has broad enough shoulders and strong enough backs to take out the Reds Devils from their hell. In view of recent performances, skepticism logically remains permissible…
