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Under-fire Ten Hag brands Crystal Palace loss ‘worst defeat’ of his reign – but is this really Man Utd boss’ low point?


MANCHESTER UNITED were battered and humiliated by Crystal Palace as things somehow continued to get worse for Erik ten Hag.

The South Londoners smashed the Red Devils 4-0 to leave the under-fire boss on the brink of the sack.

Man Utd were hammered 4-0 by Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
Erik ten Hag is in danger of losing his jobCredit: Alamy

After the game, Jamie Carragher claimed they are the “most poorly coached team in the league” and Ashley Young labelled the performance “shambolic”.

The loss means United are eighth in the table on 54 points and are at risk of finishing below their lowest ever total of 58.

Asked if this is the lowest point of his Old Trafford reign, Ten Hag admitted: “Yes. Our worst defeat.

“We should have kept fighting like the fans did.

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“It’s clear, this is underperforming. It’s by far not good enough. We are very disappointed. It’s a deserved defeat.”

But is this really Ten Hag’s all-time low? Let’s see how the Palace horror show compares to some other disastrous results… and you can decide which is the most embarrassing.

7-0 loss to Liverpool, March 2003

Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield.

The Reds were only 1-0 up at half-time but ran riot after the break as Ten Hag’s team were taught a brutal lesson.

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It was the club’s worst defeat in 92 years and the players were punished by being called into training early the next day.

Gary Neville called captain Bruno Fernandes a “disgrace” after he lost his rag and pleaded to be substituted.

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Man Utd were smashed 7-0 at AnfieldCredit: Getty

4-0 loss to Brentford, August 2022

Ten Hag’s second game in charge of the club was a nightmare.

A lacklustre opening saw United ship four goals inside 35 minutes.

Believing his players were unfit, Ten Hag ordered them into Carrington the next day for an extra training session where they were made to run 13.8 kilometres – the distance Brentford outran them by – on their day off.

A poor first-half saw United concede four times to BrentfordCredit: Reuters
Crystal Palace 4 Man Utd 0: Ten Hag one step closer to axe after ’embarrassing’ total capitulation against Eagles

3-0 loss to Sevilla, April 2023

Man Utd were cruising at 2-0 in the quarter-final of the Europa League.

Set to take the advantage to Spain for the second leg, disaster struck as Tyrell Malacia and Harry Maguire both netted own goals in the last ten minutes to make it 2-2.

With work to do in Sevilla, the Red Devils slumped to a shockingly bad 3-0 defeat as David De Gea and Maguire had calamitous evenings.

Several blunders over two legs saw United lose to SevillaCredit: Getty

3-0 loss to Bournemouth, December 2023

Old Trafford has been far from a fortress, losing at home seven times in all competitions so far this season.

Perhaps the worst was against Bournemouth as Andoni Iraola outdone Ten Hag with a brilliantly clinical performance from his side.

United fans booed off their players.

Bournemouth got the better of Man Utd at Old Trafford in a shock winCredit: AFP

4-3 loss to Chelsea, April 2024

The collapse at Chelsea set an unwanted record for the latest a side has ever led in a Premier League match before going on to lose.

They were ahead at 99 minutes and 17 seconds before a Cole Palmer double sunk United.

It was also the second time in a matter of days that they lost a lead beyond the 97th minute after Brentford score a late equaliser in the previous fixture.

United broke unwanted records as Palmer scored in the 100th and 101st minuteCredit: Reuters

4-3 loss to Copenhagen, November 2023

The damaging defeat in the Danish capital saw United effectively dumped out the Champions League.

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In a thriller, Marcus Rashford was sent off as two goals in the final ten minutes saw Copenhagen take all three points.

The loss led to Ten Hag’s men finishing bottom of their group.

Man Utd were effectively out the Champions League after losing to CopenhagenCredit: Getty

Pundits’ verdict on Ten Hag’s future

Where do the pundits stand on Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United future?

Michael Owen – He 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


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