There was a bleak really feel to the spectacle at Previous Trafford as Erik ten Hag and his gamers walked across the pitch amid pouring rain to applaud followers who had remained within the stands to the ultimate whistle. These few hundred within the Stretford Finish saved singing, despite the fact that there was not a lot to sing about; the tone not a lot defiance as obligation.
Alejandro Garnacho, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana had been among the many final to go down the tunnel. Ideas should have been whirring of their minds about how shortly Manchester United have plunged into turmoil already this season and what wants to vary to engineer a turnaround.
There was nothing notably uncommon within the dressing room afterwards. Only a willpower to “reset”, beginning within the Europa League sport at Porto on Thursday, with Ten Hag telling his gamers there’s “all the time a brand new day”.
However, inevitably, focus will fall on whether or not Ten Hag has the flexibility to deliver daylight to that new day as a result of this was a darkish event, a second 3-0 defeat in as many Premier League house matches, having performed one of many worst halves of soccer in latest reminiscence within the opening interval.
Afterwards, Ten Hag stated he was not occupied with being scrutinized for his job. “All of us made in togetherness this resolution in the summertime to remain collectively,” he stated, in reference to the overview which noticed United interview different candidates for his place, corresponding to Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, solely to determine to stay with him.
“We made the choice, after a transparent overview, what we have now to enhance as an organisation and tips on how to assemble a squad. All choices made in togetherness, additionally realizing it will take a while given how the window went. We’re all there on one web page, one boat, the possession, the management group, the employees, the gamers, too.”
United’s shambolic first half was greeted by stony faces in a administrators’ field that included INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford and United’s CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
United’s hierarchy together with (from left, second row up) Sir Dave Brailsford, Omar Berrada, Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox (Michael Regan/Getty Pictures)
Privately, these in cost are echoing Ten Hag’s sentiments — that altering the infrastructure and dealing practices on the membership was the principle precedence when INEOS arrived and endurance is required to permit that to mattress in and see outcomes. Berrada and Ashworth solely went public unequivocally backing Ten Hag firstly of this month, so altering course now could be a volte-face and out of preserving for executives who wish to be pushed by a methodical course of.
One other consideration is that Ten Hag was allowed to select his personal coaches, together with Ruud van Nistelrooy, and have an affect on signings.
Likewise, the managerial panorama has not modified a lot from that interval in Could and June when these in cost at United scoured the marketplace for attainable replacements, finally deciding on Ten Hag. Gareth Southgate is now accessible having left his function with England and has hyperlinks to Ashworth and Brailsford, however that’s so far as it goes on him.
The stress is certain to construct on the decision-makers, nonetheless, ought to Porto and Sunday’s journey to Aston Villa present extra of the identical, particularly as one other worldwide break is looming. Gary Neville and Ashley Younger, two former United captains, instructed on Sky Sports activities that the gamers ought to have a gathering with out Ten Hag to determine tips on how to proceed. That’s the form of media conjecture that may fill the narrative until outcomes enhance dramatically.
“We began the sport very poor after we conceded a objective like we did when a centre-half (Micky van de Ven) is crossing the entire pitch, then we had been very disturbing within the sport, we didn’t discover spare man within the swap, couldn’t hold the ball, not aggressive sufficient in third-man actions, we didn’t get the press proper,” Ten Hag accepted.
Such psychological fragility is alarming, elevating the query of whether or not it’s a person factor or a insecurity within the workforce technique.
The crimson card for Bruno Fernandes had a bearing on the competition, however Tottenham had been already slicing by United at will when it was 11 versus 11. Spurs had been good, however United had been very unhealthy. Their press was disjointed, makes an attempt to go out from the again had been fraught as gaps opened in midfield once more, and easily discovering a team-mate with the ball appeared an alien idea for a number of gamers.
Greater than as soon as, the ball dribbled out into contact from the boot of a United participant making an attempt to get a transfer going. People who did discover a crimson shirt had been typically off track. In a single counter-attack earlier than the interval, Joshua Zirkzee laid off to Marcus Rashford however put the ball behind his run. All Rashford might do was pivot and slam a return go right into a Spurs defender. He confirmed his frustration by flapping his arms.
United’s first-half passing accuracy was 76 per cent, the bottom in a primary half within the Premier League this season.
United additionally dawdled in defence, at one level Matthijs de Ligt turning on the ball solely to seek out Dominic Solanke. On one other event, Diogo Dalot tried to take an additional contact however discovered Brennan Johnson on him to start out an assault that led to a James Maddison shot.
Then there was the Spurs objective, coming within the third minute. Van de Ven took up the FC Twente blueprint by seizing the ball and operating straight at United. To have conceded such a objective as soon as is embarrassing; to take action twice in two video games is a dereliction.
It’s in that context that Fernandes made his foul. He slipped however nonetheless flicked his studs out at Maddison’s shin earlier than drawing them away. It was a harsh crimson card, however there appeared to be a component of irritation concerned at Maddison dictating the midfield motion. (Fernandes later requested to do post-match media as an alternative of Onana to place his aspect throughout and settle for duty.)
Fernandes brings down Maddison to earn a crimson card (Michael Regan/Getty Pictures)
United had been imploding at that stage, with Kobbie Mainoo additionally going off on the identical second, showing to counsel to Casemiro and Antony on the sidelines that he had harm his hamstring. United’s self-discipline eroded, with yellow playing cards for Mason Mount clattering Rodrigo Bentancur, Martinez scything Maddison, and Manuel Ugarte barging over Dejan Kulusevski.
Ten Hag has overseen simply six wins in 19 Premier League video games courting again to final season, whereas United’s tally of seven factors is their joint-fewest after six video games of a marketing campaign (the identical file in each 2013-14 and 2020-21).
Solely in 2007-08 (4) have United scored fewer targets by their first six Premier League video games than the 5 they’ve this time period, though they did end that season with a double of Premier League and Champions League titles.
A extra regarding omen comes from United shedding consecutive Premier League matches with out scoring at Previous Trafford for the primary time since November 2021 (0-5 v Liverpool and 0-2 v Manchester Metropolis). These had been the final two house video games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in command of the membership.
Ten Hag will hope that’s not an unwell omen for his personal tenure.
(High picture: Carl Recine/Getty Pictures)
