Following last night’s humiliation at the hands of bitter-rivals Liverpool, Manchester United find themselves in 6th place, 22 points off the lead.
A Mohamed Salah double, and goals from Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz, saw the once great Manchester side fall to a limp 4-0 defeat.
What was more worrying for supporters everywhere, was the complete lack of evidence that any of the players cared.
The defeat saw the aggregate score for the season at 9-0 to the Merseysiders. The result of the two fixtures highlighting the enormous gulf in quality between the two rivals.
Former United captain Roy Keane was left extremely disappointed after last night’s result.
“It’s not anger, it was anger earlier in the season. It’s sadness” he said.
"It's NOT the club I played for!" ?
Roy Keane reacts to Man United's 4-0 defeat to Liverpool ? #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/lR0Q3Uqnwc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2022
Leading up to the game, many United supporters were anticipating a heavy defeat. If there was a moment to define the current situation, one need only look to Paul Pogba downing tools after 10 minutes.
Paul Pogba by Ardfern
The issues on the field are one thing, but the issues above the players are inexcusable.
Recent displays of fan dissatisfaction are nothing new and a planned protest before Saturdays visit of Norwich was testament to this.
It’s a football club that requires complete renovation. From the players on the pitch, to the management team and the board – even the once great theatre of dreams requires more than a perennial coat of paint.
What appears to be the imminent arrival of Dutch mastermind Erik ten Hag is a start, but his acquisition will only work if the owners will bend to his will.
The mistakes of the last decade must not be repeated if this one great club is to begin on the path toward reclaiming its rightful place of perennial contender.
As I have been saying for some time: When you have a group of footballers that refuse to be the first man to a breaking ball, you have a group of players that will happily throw every manager under the bus.
