Ten Hag losing control as United’s winless run goes on
MANCHESTER UNITED appear a team who have lost control of their destiny.
Champions League qualification? That is surely gone, even though Erik ten Hag insisted he believes in some kind of fantasy whereby Aston Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle all simultaneously collapse and United hardly put a foot wrong for the remaining six games.
The Europa League or Europa Conference League? Hanging onto sixth or seventh spot looks awkward, given the resurgence of Chelsea and Newcastle.
Lower than seventh? That is “not relevant” according to manager Ten Hag, right, who answered that question in mid-rise before storming out of his press conference.
A decade ago it was unimaginable that United might play Bournemouth twice and earn just a single point, while being outscored by five goals to two and completely outplayed.
Defender Diogo Dalot said: “We lost a bit of control building up from the back, especially from situations that we shouldn’t.
“Maybe we are taking too many risks. Sometimes the gap between defenders and the midfield is a little too big.That’s why we are getting counter-attacked too many times and conceding too many shots.
“We conceded two goals in the first half but we had the aptitude to fight for the result.That’s the only positive.” Bruno Fernandes rescued a draw with goals in each half, his second a penalty, but it is now 37 days since United won a Premier League game.The injury list is Ten Hag’s go-to excuse and one of those to step in, 19-year-old defenderWilly Kambwala, was culpable in goals for Dominic Solanke and Justin Kluivert.
Cherries manager Andoni Iraola said of Ten Hag: “I think he’s doing a good job.
“We are talking about how good our performance was and yet we still couldn’t beat them.”
BOURNEMOUTH 2 MAN UNITED 2