JAMIE CARRAGHER slammed Manchester United after their humiliating defeat to Crystal Palace.
The Red Devils were hammered 4-0 at Selhurst Park in a loss that surely spells the end to Erik ten Hag’s reign.
Palace continuously ripped a woeful United apart as goals by Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell did the damage.
Live on Sky Sports after the final whistle, Carragher didn’t hold back in his criticism of Ten Hag’s side.
He said: “This is one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League, that’s a fact. That is not an opinion. That is a fact.
“The numbers tell you that when you see them bottom of the league defensively, lower than Sheffield United.
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“I struggled to see how United would win tonight but I thought Palace would win one or two nil. No Manchester United team should be getting beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace.
“Manchester United’s Under-23 team, if they are at Manchester United, have come through their academy, have been coached and taught to play, I would still not expect them to lose 4-0.
“I have never been a manager or a coach but I have been a player and I have been coached by top coaches and some of the things that I see are just wrong.”
Carragher then singled out Casemiro for criticism as the midfielder had a nightmare as a makeshift defender due to an injury crisis.
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Fergie banned me from Man Utd press conferences SEVEN TIMES – I once rowed with him in the toilets
By SunSport’s Manchester United correspondent Neil Custis.
MUCH consternation recently at the news that three football writers were denied the chance to ask Erik ten Hag a question over three consecutive press conferences.
The dismay did not stretch to myself despite being one of those placed briefly on the naughty step.
I don’t agree with such ‘punishments’ for stories or opinions but Ten Hag has had to take a bucketload this season and has never been anything but polite and helpful.
So if he wanted to do something to have a go back for once, no problem.
It’s all sorted now and everyone is friends again.
Having been brought up on Sir Alex Ferguson press conferences and downright unfair bans of varying lengths, seven in my case, you become immune to middle-aged men having a hissy fit.
Recent events reminded me of a lovely warm day at the Haydock Thistle Hotel some years back, where North-West based managers and writers were all invited to a lunch.
Sir Alex was there on the main table laughing, singing and generally holding court when simultaneously all the writers’ phones bleeped with a message from United’s “no communication department”.
He had no doubt arranged for it to be sent bang in the middle of the lunch informing us all that relations would be suspended forthwith.
Our crime was to use his words from a local radio interview he had done that week and the controversial comments he made within it.
We were all fuming so, when he got up to leave I followed him out of the luncheon suite.
As I ranted about how unfair his actions were, he ignored me and walked on ahead, entering another room.
I followed, still ranting, but he kept his back to me and looked down silently.
Was he having a rethink as his gaze remained concentrated, his head stooped?
No, he was having a wee! We had entered the gents but, in my own hissy fit, I hadn’t quite realised.
I’m not sure what the hotel guest two urinals down made of it but how absurd the whole scene must have appeared.
Defeated and deflated, I returned to the luncheon where the free red wine got a hammering and I sulked.
There would be more such incidents, told and retold to this day with laughter.
I always say covering United when Sir Alex was boss was like a stay at Fawlty Towers — not particularly comfortable but certainly unforgettable.
The pundit said the ex-Real Madrid star, 32, should “call it a day” on his career and move away from the elite level of the game to the MLS or Saudi Arabia.
Carragher said: “I’m deadly serious. He’s ageing, the people around him they need to tell him this has to stop.
“He’s been an absolute great. But I always remember something when I retired myself, there was a saying I always remember as a footballer, ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’.
Carragher also blasted Antony, Mason Mount and Andre Onana as the trio were making gestures and covering their mouths as they spoke while trudging off the pitch.
The former Liverpool defender exclaimed: “Just get off the pitch. I mean, talking, whispering behind your hand.
“Been absolutely awful. You’re probably talking about one of the players or somebody else or the set-up or the manager.
“Just get off the pitch. Shut up and get in. You’ve been beat 4-0. Whispering and talking about other players, honestly, embarrassing.”
Pressure is now mounting on Ten Hag as the team languish in eight place on 54 points with three league games to go before the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
United have never finished below seventh and their lowest points total came in the 2021/22 season when they finished on a underwhelming 58 points.
Pundits verdict on Ten Hag’s future
Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future
Michael Owen – Has to go
“He cannot, simply cannot, manage this team next season. He’s not good enough.”
Teddy Sheringham – Might stay if he wins Cup but should go
“If United win the FA Cup, he could stay. But, for me, changes are needed and United need to get it done sooner than later.”
Jamie Carragher – Sacked
“I don’t see how Erik ten Hag stays. It’s just performance after performance.”
Gary Neville – Stay if he wins the FA Cup
“To sack a manager who’s won two trophies in his first two seasons at the club I think would be extreme.”
Louis Saha – On the fence
“I don’t see it as clearly but they need changes from the players but they need changes from him as well.”
Alan Shearer – Sacked
“I believe the future of the Man Utd manager is already determined. Even if they win the FA Cup I think he’s gone.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
