Manchester United suffered another sobering afternoon at Old Trafford this weekend as AFC Bournemouth scored three goals without reply, leaving Ruben Amorim in absolutely no doubt of the size of the task he faces to turn the club around.
It was a lacklustre display from Amorim’s men as they fell behind midway through the first half via another set piece goal and failed to spark a comeback in the second-half with the visitors scoring twice in quick succession just after the hour mark.
The performance has drawn criticism from many with former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel not holding back in his assessment.
In comments relayed by Football365.com, Schmeichel was left unimpressed with the lack of cohesion he saw at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday.
“Very disappointing again. Too many mistakes, and it doesn’t really look like a team,” he said.
The legendary stopper then accused the players of “giving up” after conceding the second-half goals and added that they must find a way of taking the chances they are creating in games.
“They had the opportunities at the end of the first half, didn’t take those chances, and then eventually you know they go 2-0 down (and) 3-0 down very quickly after that, and it just looks like they’re giving up,” said Schmeichel.
The Dane continued by saying after shipping the third, the players lost their shape and couldn’t hide his frustration at another dour display in front of home support.
“From that moment on, it just looked like the players individually tried to do something, I don’t know, just to show them in a good light or…
“Again, it’s just so disappointing. 3-0. Four times they’ve conceded three goals this season (at home),” he added.
The defeat leaves United planted in the bottom half of the Premier League. However talented the new head coach might be, what is clear that he will need some major help in the upcoming transfer markets if he is to bridge the gap between United and the teams battling at the top of the table.
The games come thick and fast over Christmas and United have the chance to get back on track in midweek as they travel to the Midlands to face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day.
Feature image Matt McNulty via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
