20 November 2023 , 11:34
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This time two years ago, the mood around Manchester United was far worse than it is currently.
Sure, under the watch of Erik ten Hag this term the Red Devils have overseen a few disappointing defeats, but there is enough evidence to show that the man at the helm currently is worth sticking with. The same cannot be said for when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was on the verge of the sack as United boss in November 2021.
An under-fire squad devoid of any confidence made their way to Vicarage Road to take on Watford in a match that United were still the favourites for, despite mounting pressure on the manager after a run of dismal displays. However, what followed was too damaging for even a club legend like Solskjaer to survive.
United were brushed aside with ease, being beaten 4-1 by a Watford side that would go on to be relegated that same season, picking up just six wins in the process. The clash saw the Hornets bag two in second-half stoppage time, but not before Harry Maguire was sent off after a second yellow card.
As if things couldn't get worse from a United perspective, Bruno Fernandes was spotted embroiled in a heated exchange with the travelling Red Devils faithful at full-time. It seeemed as if the midfielder took issue with the boos and jeers aimed at Solskjaer and responded with anger.
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The 27-year-old began to shake his finger and shout back to his own supporters, while pointing to his teammates - suggesting it is the players, rather than the manager, who should have taken the brunt of the frustration from fans.
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Bruno Fernandes was emotional after the battering at WatfordKeen to get his point across, Fernandes didn't hold back and continued to gesture towards the fans long after Soksjaer had turned and headed down the tunnel. It wasn't until then-team-mate Fred led him away that the Portugal star finally made his way off the pitch.
The morale was at rock-bottom and David de Gea's assessment at full-time painted a picture of just how bleak the situation was for the Premier League giants. "It was embarrassing, the way we played today," the Spain international told BBC Sport.
"The first half was very poor - it's not acceptable for this club and the level of players that we have. It's another nightmare. There's been some difficulties but I don't really know what to say.
"I have been in difficult moments with this club but we are in a difficult situation - we don't know what to do with the ball, we are conceding a lot of goals. It's a horrible moment. It's easy to say the manager and staff but the ones who are on the pitch are the players and they're the ones who have to score goals and fight on the pitch.
"We need to look at ourselves one by one and give more for the club and the fans. It's difficult to say why there was a performance like this - I don't know what to say. It's hard to be in the dressing room now - we are sad, we are angry. Personally I'm hurt - it's a very difficult moment for the whole club."
Sure enough, just one day later Solskjaer was dismissed from his post as United manager. "He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family," the club statement read.
The sentiment is of course true, nothing can detract from Solskjaer's status as a United legend and the affection the Old Trafford faithful still have for him, but make no mistake the end of his reign was one of the darkest periods of the club's modern history.