Reds so disUnited
RALF’S FLOPS ARE BACK IN CRISIS MODE
MANCHESTER UNITED sank 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 an unmitigated disaster but never more so than yesterday with this pathetic excuse of a United side smashed to smithereens by
Brighton. No wonder the German said sorry to the United masses afterwards. He said: “It’s important to apologise to the fans here.
“It was terrible – just not good enough. It was humiliating.
“This is my second-highest 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 said: “No. No. I must defend them. I have seen them all week. The problem is you can’t defend like we did.”
Indeed. Had Graham Potter’s hosts taken all their chances, it might have been closer to double figures.
Understandable, then, why United are dispensing with Rangnick and happy for him to combine his consultancy role with the Austrian job.
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.
Well, the Brighton manager’s stock is now even higher with his Seagulls storming towards their first top-half Premier League finish.
Easy to see why his employers do not want him going anywhere after a third season of progress under his watch.
In style, entertainment and, most importantly, points.
Brighton’s pre-match tally of 44 had beaten their previous best for the season.
There have been occasional murmurs of discontent from
Seagulls 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 chaotic underachievement.
As brilliant as Brighton were,
United did nothing to halt them. Cristiano Ronaldo had not even had a kick before the unlikely figure of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo broke the deadlock on 15 minutes.
Pascal Gross’ volley was blocked after Alex Telles’ dreadful clearance and Caicedo rifled in low from 20 yards, the ball flying through Victor Lindelof’s legs to deceive David de Gea.
That made it 53 league goals conceded this term – United’s worst record since 1979.
The excellent Gross went close, Leandro Trossard drove wide before Danny Welbeck missed a sitter as a second Seagulls goal seemed inevitable but failed to materialise before the break.
United’s half was summed up as Ronaldo’s 30-yard free kick flew into Row Z.
It could not get any worse, surely? Wrong.
It took Brighton four minutes after the break to double the lead.
Gross and Trossard combined and flying Spanish defender Marc Cucurella slammed into the roof of De Gea’s net. Nine minutes later Gross capped a brilliant performance by waltzing on to the end of Trossard’s pass to make it three.
Barely a minute later, Brighton were four up as Trossard bundled in Welbeck’s cross and had the Belgian not hit the post straight after, it would have been 5-0 on the hour mark.
Asked if he was surprised how rubbish 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.”