Red Devils are ‘most poorly coached team’
NEWCASTLE United will face “one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League” when they head to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United next week.
That’s the verdict of former Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher after Erik ten Hag’s side lost 4-0 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night. Michael Olise hit a brace, alongside goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell in a result that leaves the Red Devils perilously close to missing out on European football next season.
Newcastle and Chelsea are battling it out with Man United for sixth spot, with Eddie Howe’s in-form Magpies potentially having one eye on fifth should Spurs continue to slip up.
All three sides have had their problems with injuries this season, but Carragher had little sympathy for ten Hag following Monday night’s humiliation.
“This is one of the most poorly coached teams in the Premier League,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. I get that the backline was unavailable, I understand, your performance level will drop and your results will not be as good when you miss your best players, that’s obvious.
“But Erik ten Hag needs performances. You’ve got to make us believe there’s something there or working to something. If he was to lose his job, I don’t think he could have any complaints.
“I struggled to see how Man United would win, but I thought Palace might win 1-0 or 2-1 in a tight game. No Manchester United team should be getting beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace. Manchester United’s under-23s team, I’d still not expect them to lose 4-0. I’ve never been a coach or manager, but I’ve been a player and I’ve been coached by top coaches and some of the things I see are just wrong.”
Those words will provide further encouragement to Eddie Howe and Co, who go to Old Trafford next week following Saturday’s home clash with Brighton. Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday, while Chelsea go to Nottingham Forest, also on Saturday.