MANCHESTER:
Manchester United’s future on this season’s Champions League hangs by a thread forward of Bayern Munich’s go to to Previous Trafford, with an early exit in Europe positive to place extra scrutiny on supervisor Erik ten Hag.
The Dutchman tried to argue after victory over Chelsea final week that United’s season has not reached crisis-mode.
However Ten Hag’s hopes {that a} turning level had been reached had been short-lived as a 3-Zero defeat at residence to Bournemouth on Saturday noticed a troubled marketing campaign attain a brand new low.
The Purple Devils sit sixth within the Premier League after seven defeats of their opening 16 video games.
But, whereas there could also be time to get better a spot within the high 4 domestically, their want within the Champions League is pressing.
Solely victory in opposition to the German champions on Tuesday will give United any likelihood of progress to the final 16 and even then, they want FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray to attract of their last Group A match.
United are lucky to actually have a shot on the knockout levels after a return of simply 4 factors from their opening 5 matches.
No English aspect has ever conceded as many because the 14 objectives that Ten Hag’s males have in 5 Champions League group video games.
A collection of high-scoring shootouts in Europe contrasts sharply with United’s troubles to attain objectives within the Premier League.
“We’re actually inconsistent. We have now the talents to do it, however it’s important to do it each sport and each third day,” stated Ten Hag after Bournemouth celebrated their first ever win at Previous Trafford in model.
“I believe as a squad we’re not adequate to be constant and now we have to work as a squad to enhance that.”
No United ahead has scored at residence within the Premier League all season as Marcus Rashford’s demise has contributed to his aspect’s struggles.
Rashford scored 30 occasions in a career-best marketing campaign for objectives final season however has simply two thus far this season — one in all which got here from the penalty spot.
The England worldwide has exhausted Ten Hag’s endurance and been dropped for the final two video games.
However Rashford may return in opposition to Bayern as his understudies have additionally struggled to shine.
Alejandro Garnacho has produced flashes of brilliance, although stays wildly inconsistent as might be anticipated for a 19-year-old winger.
In the meantime Antony, who Ten Hag pushed to sign up a £86 million ($108 million) deal final yr, has not scored in his final 25 matches.
The Brazilian is only one of an extended checklist of high-priced flops which have seen United’s fortunes decline in a decade since Alex Ferguson departed as supervisor.
Final weekend’s loss to Bournemouth was the 35th residence league defeat suffered by United since Ferguson’s retirement.
Throughout the iconic 26-year reign of the Scottish supervisor, United had been solely crushed within the league at Previous Trafford 34 occasions.
Bayern could already be assured of their place within the final 16 as group winners however have some extent to show themselves after being thrashed 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
And the final time Bayern misplaced a Champions League group sport was six years in the past.
United captain Bruno Fernandes stated his aspect should “do their job” and hope for assist in Copenhagen.
“We all know that the following sport goes to be actually powerful – now we have to win and anticipate an excellent consequence within the different sport for us,” stated Fernandes.
“We have now to do our job, to begin with, however we’re greater than able to getting the end in that.”