It’s no more news that Manchester United club in crisis.
The Red Devils who opened their Premier League season with a 2-1 loss to Brighton last week followed that up with a shocking 4-0 loss to Brentford on Matchday two.
The Old Trafford side who picked up just 58 points from 38 Premier League games during a terrible 2021-22 campaign looks like they are in for another disastrous season despite a change in personnel.
When they hired Erik ten Hag as their manager, many expected them to be challenging Manchester City and Liverpool for the title this season. To their credit, they showed signs of promise during their preseason. Still, since the league began, they have been one of the worst performers and ended the weekend sitting in 20th position following two losses and a goal difference of minus five.
Speaking after his side’s 4-0 loss to Brentford over the weekend, Ten Hag declared that his players had to take responsibility for the loss.
“They are good players, and have to take responsibility on the pitch, as a team and as individuals, and that’s what we didn’t do,” Ten Hag said.
“I asked them to play with belief and take responsibility for their performance, and that’s what they didn’t do.
“It’s only when we stick together and work hard that we will overcome that. You have to take belief on to the pitch for yourself and the team.
“Don’t get me wrong, the manager is responsible as well. He has the main responsibility, and I take that. And I will work on that. I have to give them belief, but they have to give it by themselves.”
While Ten hag tries to sort his team out and put them back in shape, we take a look at ten shocking stats from the loss.
- The loss was the first time Manchester United have conceded four goals in the first 35 minutes of a Premier League game.
- No side has conceded more goals away from home in the Premier League in 2022 than the Red Devils who have conceded 27 goals this year.
- Brentford are just the third side to score four first-half goals against United in a Premier League game after Tottenham in 2020 and Liverpool in 2021. It’s also the first time it’s happened to United in a Premier League away game.
- This was the Bees’ first victory against Manchester United since 1938.
- Thomas Frank’s men ran 109.4km, made 90 sprints and completed 21 pressures in the final third. In comparison, Erik ten Hag’s men ran 95.6km, made 65 sprints and completed seven pressures in the final third.
- Erik ten Hag is now the first manager to lose each of his first two games in charge of United since John Chapman in 1921.
- The Red Devils finished a day at the bottom of the Premier League table for the first time since August 21st 1992.
- United have lost seven consecutive away league matches for the first time since 1936.
- They have scored two goals and conceded 21 goals in those seven away league matches.
- They have picked up just seven points from their last 10 league games. Only Wolves (6) and Southampton (5) have less.
