MOISES & CO PART RED SEA
Caicedo sparks rout of United’s worst Prem side
WMANCHESTER UNITED sunk to new depths on the South Coast as their fuming travelling support were left ridiculing Ralf Rangnick’s flops.
“You’re getting sacked in the morning” was the good riddance chant aimed at the beleaguered interim coach and “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” the stinging message to those on the pitch.
Rangnick’s Old Trafford spell has been a disaster but never more so than yesterday with this excuse of a United side routed by Brighton.
Yesterday’s defeat means their worst season in the Premier League is guaranteed – with a final-day trip to Crystal Palace they cannot pass the previous worst tally of 64 points they picked up in 2013/14.
The onslaught was started by the unlikely figure of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.
And Rangnick said sorry to the United fans afterwards, admitting: “It’s important to apologise to the fans here. It was terrible – just not good enough.
“It was humiliating. This is my second biggest defeat in 30 years. But it’s not just the result, it’s the unacceptable way that we lost.”
Yet regarding United’s perceived lack of effort, he countered “No. No. I must defend them. I have seen them all week. The problem is you can’t defend like we did.” Had Graham Potter’s Seagulls taken all their chances, it might have been double figures.
It is understandable, then, why United are dispensing with Rangnick even though he will combine a consultancy role with bossing Austria.
However, incoming successor Erik ten Hag may wonder if leaving Ajax is such a good move when he witnesses this slaughter of Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.
Potter, meanwhile, was being linked with Tottenham – should Antonio Conte walk – even before this first home win since Boxing Day.
The Brighton manager’s stock is now even higher with his side storming towards their first top-half
Premier League finish. Their pre-match points tally of 44 had already topped their previous best.
There have been occasional murmurs of discontent from Albion fans, especially when it comes to not scoring enough. But their run of four wins from six has silenced the doubters.
Which is not something fallen United have experienced during an appalling campaign of underachievement.
Second last season, they were slumped in fifth on their arrival here, with
not secure. As s Brighton were,
ere awful. no Ronaldo had had a kick before er Caicedo broke
dlock after 15 .
Gross’ volley was after Alex Telles’ l clearance and
rifled in low from s, the ball flying
Victor Lindelof ’s eat David De Gea. er’s troops
ed to be first to ose ball. ond Seagulls goal
inevitable but failed to materialise before the break. United’s half was summed up as Ronaldo’s free-kick flew into Row Z.
It could not get any worse, surely? Wrong! It took Brighton four minutes to double the lead.
Gross and Leandro Trossard combined and Spanish ace Marc Cucurella slammed it into the net.
Eight minutes on Gross waltzed onto the end of Trossard’s pass to make it three.
Barely three minutes later, Brighton were four up as Trossard bundled in Danny Welbeck’s cross.
Asked if he was surprised how woeful United were, Potter said: “I can’t comment on the opposition. I can speak about is how good we were. It was a brilliant day.”