There was a bleak really feel to the spectacle at Outdated Trafford as Erik ten Hag and his gamers walked across the pitch amid pouring rain to applaud followers who had remained within the stands to the ultimate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 stored singing, regardless 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 recreation at Porto on Thursday, with Ten Hag telling his gamers there’s “at all times a brand new day”.
However, inevitably, focus will fall on whether or not Ten Hag has the power to carry daylight to that new day as a result of this was a darkish event, a second 3-0 defeat in as many Premier League dwelling matches, having performed one of many worst halves of soccer in latest reminiscence within the opening interval.
Afterwards, Ten Hag mentioned he was not fascinated with being scrutinized for his job. “All of us made in togetherness this choice in the summertime to remain collectively,” he mentioned, in reference to the evaluate which noticed United interview different candidates for his place, comparable to Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi, solely to resolve to stay with him.
“We made the choice, after a transparent evaluate, what we now have to enhance as an organisation and find out how to assemble a squad. All choices made in togetherness, additionally figuring out it might take a while given how the window went. We’re all there on one web page, one boat, the possession, the management group, the workers, 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 initially of this month, so altering course now can be a volte-face and out of protecting for executives who wish to be pushed by a methodical course of.
One other consideration is that Ten Hag was allowed to choose 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, in the end 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, advised on Sky Sports activities that the gamers ought to have a gathering with out Ten Hag to resolve find out how to proceed. That’s the type of media conjecture that may fill the narrative until outcomes enhance dramatically.
“We began the sport very poor after we conceded a aim like we did when a centre-half (Micky van de Ven) is crossing the entire pitch, then we had been very tense within the recreation, we didn’t discover spare man within the swap, couldn’t maintain 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 staff technique.
The purple card for Bruno Fernandes had a bearing on the competition, however Tottenham had been already slicing by way of 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 move 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. Those who did discover a purple shirt had been usually 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 may do was pivot and slam a return move 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 aim, coming within the third minute. Van de Ven took up the FC Twente blueprint by seizing the ball and working straight at United. To have conceded such a aim 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 purple card, however there seemed 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 facet throughout and settle for duty.)
Fernandes brings down Maddison to earn a purple card (Michael Regan/Getty Pictures)
United had been imploding at that stage, with Kobbie Mainoo additionally going off on the identical second, showing to recommend 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 relationship 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 document in each 2013-14 and 2020-21).
Solely in 2007-08 (4) have United scored fewer objectives by way of 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 Outdated Trafford for the primary time since November 2021 (0-5 v Liverpool and 0-2 v Manchester Metropolis). These had been the final two dwelling video games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer answerable for the membership.
Ten Hag will hope that’s not an in poor health omen for his personal tenure.
(Prime photograph: Carl Recine/Getty Pictures)