Ten Hag treated to a first-hand look at shambolic United

WITH around five minutes left, Manchester United fans burst into life as the scoreline from the Etihad filtered through. Manchester City’s dramatic comeback had wrecked Liverpool’s hopes of equalling United’s record total of 20 top-flight titles and finally they had something to celebrate. That’s how sorry this season has been for United. With new boss Erik ten Hag watching on, it ended in yet another defeat devoid of any signs of hope at Crystal Palace.

Thanks to West Ham’s 3-1 loss at Brighton, United were able to salvage a Europa League rather than Europa Conference League place from this season to forget.

Interim boss Ralf Rangnick has repeatedly outlined the recruitment issues that have left United in this dismal state, so there was something fitting about Wilfried Zaha’s winner. Joining as Sir Alex Ferguson’s final capture, Zaha was mishandled and discarded before returning to Palace and proving his quality. He has inspired them to a more-than creditable 12thplaced finish in Patrick Vieira’s debut year this season with a career-best 15 goals.

Bruno Fernandes’ dreadful attempt to hook the ball back to his defence landed at the feet of Zaha, who collected and fired past a flat-footed David de Gea. United just didn’t have the quality to find a way back into the game. United’s work in the transfer market is just one of many areas that will require drastic improvement under Ten Hag. De Gea said: ‘The new manager and staff are already looking for players. Hopefully they bring good ones with good character.’