Manchester United are trying hard to put a horror performance at Selhurst Park in the rear view mirror.
Forgetting about the disastrous 4-0 loss is not so easy. It was Manchester United’s worst defeat of the 2023/24 season, at a time when the team need to build momentum for the forthcoming FA Cup final.
A very tough end of season schedule awaits, with United facing Arsenal, Newcastle and then Brighton.
There are big issues forErik ten Hag to address, simply to turn United into a team capable of turning in a respectable display, let alone an exceptional one.
Manchester United defence was the focus
Manchester United’s defence was the key to the collapse. The result was pretty much what you could expect from starting a half-fit Jonny Evans and an out of position Casemiro.
United conceded four, with Erik ten Hag expressing his frustration at the way his players failed to follow instructions.
Ten Hag was limited with his defensive team select due to a worrying number of center-back injuries, added to by Harry Maguire suffering a muscle problem days before the game.
The defensive performance you can make some allowances for, given the scarcity of options. The other end of the pitch was more alarming.
Why Manchester United’s attack was a bigger problem
The big problem was Manchester United’s weak attack. Once upon a time, if Manchester United conceded four, the team would simply score five.
Against Crystal Palace, the team struggled badly in the final third. While United had the ball in the back of the net twice, both disallowed, each of these came from set pieces.
In open play, despite seeing 58 per cent of possession, Manchester United did not threaten at all. The team had only two shots on target.
United had a not quite full strength attack with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes out, but still an expensively assembled one.
Rasmus Hojlund cost £64 million, Antony £81 million, while Alejandro Garnacho is worth millions after coming through the academy.
Fernandes was replaced byMason Mount, a £55 million signing, getting a long awaited start.
Together they were awful. Rio Ferdinand said he questioned if Mount was even on the pitch.
One MUTV analyst criticised the front three’s lack of movement, making life hard for the midfield behind them.
The lack of goals was not a rarity. United have struggled all season, scoring only 52 goals in 35 games, sitting now with a -3 goal difference with 55 conceded.
It’s a similar record to 16th placed Brentford, who have scored 52 and conceded 60. The league position of eighth may be flattering United’s abject performance levels.
Erik ten Hag’s Ajax side was prolific, but at Manchester United, he has never seen his team beat an opponent by more than a three-goal margin.
With the tough upcoming fixture schedule, it’s hard to see this changing this season.