Erik ten Hag crisis deepens as Sofyan Amrabat slammed in Man Utd defeat
Manchester United suffered a fourth defeat in seven Premier League games on Saturday, falling to a 1-0 reverse against Crystal Palace.
United had beaten the same opponents in midweek, knocking Roy Hodgson's side out of the EFL Cup. This time, though, a first-half volley from Eagles defender Joachim Andersen made all the difference and allowed Hodgson to secure successive wins at Old Trafford after winning in August 2020 during his last Palace spell.
As expected, there has been plenty of fall-out as the pressure increases on United boss Erik ten Hag. Here are the latest lines from around Old Trafford.
Ten Hag sets unwanted record
Man Utd's reverse against Crystal Palace means they have posted their worst start to a season during the Premier League era. The Red Devils have just nine points from seven games, and you have to go back 34 years for the last time they picked up fewer.
Back then, early in Alex Ferguson's reign, United earned just seven points from their first seven games. They would end that season down in 13th, though there was a silver lining in the form of an FA Cup win.
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Manager Ten Hag admitted his team lacked the quality to get anything out of the game. ""Of course it is frustrating," he said.
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Joachim Andersen scored Crystal Palace's winner at Old Trafford (Matt West/REX/Shutterstock)"We were also many times close. You have to be sharp and clinical. It's about decision making. We can't change this result anymore. You always learn from the game and learn to do better from the final part of the game."
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Amrabat criticised
BBC pundit Chris Sutton was unimpressed by Sofyan Amrabat as the summer signing continued in an unfamiliar position. Morocco international Amrabat was signed as a central midfielder but has been forced to fill in at left-back thanks to an injury crisis at Old Trafford.
Sofyan Amrabat was making his first Premier League start against Crystal Palace (Roger Evans/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)"Given away a free kick, being driven back towards his own goal by (Jordan) Ayew and he palms it, a keeper would be proud of that," Sutton said. "He's not looked comfortable in that left back position today, like a fish out of water."
Former Premier League champion Sutton was more impressed by Palace's defenders. "All the Palace defence, but particularly Guehi and Andersen at centre backs, have been absolute rocks," he said.
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United manager "understands" booing
Erik ten Hag was left frustrated by his team's decision-making after their second straight home league defeat but didn't blame fans for booing. United had lost 3-1 to Brighton in their previous Old Trafford outing in the league, but won at Burnley in the interim.
“I can’t blame the players, they gave everything," he said. "But in the final part in both boxes we didn’t do well. We had many chances but the decision making wasn’t good enough.
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"We were in control but we have to be sharper, more clinical and determined if we want to score. I understand the boos. The demand is for United to win against Crystal Palace at home and away. We have to do better.
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