Manchester United's turbulent season reaches a new low with a 4-0 thrashing.
United's defeat could've been less blown out if their foes had been more efficient, but it was still a crushing loss for the team in a disappointing season.
The 20-time champ now sits at position eight in the table - a prime spot United has never dropped below in the Premier League. This season, the Reds let in a whopping 81 goals, making it the highest count of all their campaigns since the 1976-77 season.
Ten Hag, the United boss, criticized his team after suffering their 13th league defeat this season. He believed the players should've done better, given their availability.
"It's a justified loss. The show wasn't what we anticipated," he shared with reporters.
This season, the Red Devils have been consistently inconsistent, a far cry from their glorious Alex Ferguson days where they reigned supreme in both domestic and European soccer.
Since Ferguson's departure in 2013, they've found it tough to replicate those heights, making Ten Hag one of many under-performing managers that followed. The mounting pressure escalated with the recent management changes.
Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool player and pundit, voiced his disapproval, labeling United as "among the least composed teams in the Premier League."
"That's true," Carragher said on Sky Sports. "The figures reveal it. At the bottom of the list defensively."
Injury Mayhem
Ten Hag pinned an injury crisis as one cause of the poor performance.
Despite shelling out millions on new players in the recent seasons, United lacked top-tier defenders, putting Casemiro, a midfielder, into a precarious backline. He seemed clueless and left exposed against Palace's resilient attack.
The sorrowful look on his face after the game was just one of many overwhelmed players, confirming that this roster needs revamping.
The supporters, however, remained steadfast in their support. Post-match, they continued to sing songs and applaud the players.
"It's unquestionable and evident, this is falling short," Ten Hag said.
"We didn't play our way as desired and it's far from adequate. We're undeniably dismayed, but the fans were by our side, as they've always been. They stuck with us and we'll keep battling."
The club has three league matches remaining to climb up the standings and sneak into next season's Europa League or Europa Conference. Chelsea, positioned at spot seven, currently holds the final European spot.
Their next encounter is against the title-chasers, Arsenal, on Sunday.
Making matters worse, United has to ready to face their city rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25. A win in that exciting match at Wembley would secure them European football the following season, though their current form doesn't seem to favor it.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
