Erik ten Hag looked very frustrated at the end of matchday 16 in the 23/24 Premier League season. His team, Manchester United was annihilated 3-0 by AFC Bournemouth, in a Premier League game held at Old Trafford. Fans have called the record English Champions’ performance very sickening and spineless.
FT: #mufc 0-3 Bournemouth
Old Trafford boos a spineless performance. United face Bayern Munich and Liverpool next.
— utdreport (@utdreport) December 9, 2023
Bournemouth made the game look utterly one-sided as it looked like the only well-prepared team on the pitch. The Cherries were on the attack since the kickoff whistle as the team took the lead in the 5th minute through their striker Dominic Solanke.
The ex-Liverpool striker was a menace for the United defense with his well-timed runs and great positioning in the opponent’s penalty box. Phillip Billing and Marcos Senesi scored the remaining two goals in the second half. This was the 2nd consecutive Premier League game in which Senesi has scored. The Argentine’s previous goal came in a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in matchday 15.
Bournemouth are currently unbeaten in their last 5 games. The Cherries have accumulated 13 points in the meantime, dropping just two points. A huge part of their success goes to their striker Dominic Solanke, who has scored 8 goals in 16 games in the PL. Solanke is the Premier League’s fifth-highest top scorer at the end of matchday 15.
🔴 Ten Hag: “As a squad, we are not good enough to be consistent and we have to work as a squad to improve that”.
“In this league if you are not playing on the highest levels, you get killed”.
“I’m annoyed, disappointed, definitely. I expected something different yesterday”. pic.twitter.com/qnboqRX7qw
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 10, 2023
A disappointed Erik ten Hag did not shy away from pointing out his team’s weaknesses. The Dutch manager certainly made his feelings known when he said this in the press conference:
” As a squad, we are not good enough to be consistent and we have to work as a squad to improve that”. “In this league, if you are not playing on the highest levels, you get killed”. “I’m annoyed, disappointed, definitely. I expected something different yesterday”. Erik was correct in criticizing his team after all his players turned up at all in the PL.
Man United has 11 defeats in 23 games in the 23/24 season
The defeat to Bournemouth sunk the ship of The Red Devils’ ship even further. United have a staggering 47% loss rate following their abysmal performances in the 23/24 season. Furthermore, United is the only team in the upper half of the Premier League, with a negative goal difference (-2).
Manchester United have now lost more Premier League home games since Sir Alex Ferguson retired (35) than they did during his 21 seasons in charge of the club (34). 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SM3xgPW337
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 9, 2023
United looked very poor in possession in the game against Bournemouth. Accordingly, Bournemouth punished the lackluster team on the counter. United captain Bruno Fernandes apologized to the team for their performance after the game. The Portuguese said to MUTV (via Metro UK):
“Just apologize, the performance we did today was not acceptable. Starting with me, I’m not talking about anyone else, but I think everyone agrees in the dressing room that our performance was not at our level and we have to perform much better.” The Portuguese received a yellow card in the game which means that he’s suspended for the next PL game.
Bournemouth’s win against United strengthened the English team’s aspiration for a top-half finish. Bournemouth faces relegation contenders Luton Town in matchday 16 at home in the Vitality. Whereas, United takes a trip to Merseyside to face arch-rivals, Liverpool, at Anfield.