Manchester United’s quest for European football took a massive hit as they were battered 4-0 by Crystal Palace.
Goals from Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell condemned Erik ten Hag’s side to a 13th league defeat of the season, with the Red Devils now languishing in eighth place.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace remain in 14th place, but are now only five points off the top ten.
Here are five things we learnt from match…
Olise stars against potential future employers
Crystal Palace have some very valuable assets at the club right now, and none more so than Michael Olise. The French U21 international got the ball rolling in the 13th minute against Manchester United for Oliver Glasner’s side, displaying some wonderful skills to get through the United midfield before picking his spot and arrowing a shot into the bottom right corner. It was none more than Palace deserved from the opening exchanges, and with Erik ten Hag’s side reportedly interested in the winger this summer, it was not a bad time to grab a goal against them. The Frenchman notched up his second of the match midway through the second half with a stunning curling effort.
United miss irreplaceable Fernandes
Months of retched injury luck has seen Erik ten Hag’s United hanging onto dear life for a European place. Following the weekend matches, they found themselves in eighth place, and having to take on Palace without their most influential player Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese international was sidelined through injury for the first time in his career, and his presence was well and truly felt by the visitors, who lacked creativity going forward and had no balance in the midfield. The Red Devils will be hoping this is the only match Fernandes needs to miss.
Stagnant Palace revitalised by Glasner
It was looking all to close at the bottom of the Premier League when Roy Hodgson departed Crystal Palace. Poor, inconsistent form marred by injuries to key players saw Palace struggle for wins and points, languishing just above the drop zone. A couple of wins followed to relieve some of the pressure, but the decision to bring in Oliver Glasner had already been made. Fast forward three months and the Austrian has got the Eagles playing fantastic, expansive football with Glasner also getting the best out of serial struggler Jean-Philippe Mateta. The turnaround in double quick time has been mightily impressive.
United’s European hopes now out of their hands
The battle for fifth place in the Premier League is hotting up, with at least four teams in with a chance. Manchester United look the least likely out the quartet to challenge for that position, but their main concern should be securing European football at the very least. Shipping four goals away at Crystal Palace has the Red Devils now down in the eighth with a -3 goal difference, which for a team of United’s stature should not be ever happening. Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea have far superior goal differences than Erik ten Hag’s men, so now there is a reliance on the other three dropping points in the last couple of matches.
Writing on the wall for ten Hag
This season could not have have gone any worse for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United. Eighth in the Premier League, knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage, and an early exit from the league cup as its holders. Along with last minute defeats, hammerings throughout the campaign and the most goals conceded by the club since 1972/73 with 81, this has shown a lack of, if any progress from the Red Devils this season. With further uncertainty over his future and a new footballing structure being put in place, a future at the club is beginning to look unlikely for the Dutchman.
