Somewhere in the middle east Cristiano Ronaldo is stroking his Bengal tiger shouting “I told you so” at his television, as he watches the demise of the man who removed him from his Old Trafford throne.
Elsewhere around the globe, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick will all undoubtedly be feeling some kind of empathy for poor Erik ten Hag, with all of the former United managers falling victim to a squad of players who decided they couldn’t be arsed to run anymore.
It almost feels like the Dutch manager’s United tenure will be defined by two embarrassing 4-0 defeats, at Brentford in August 2022, and Palace this week. Like glorious bookends at either end of the shelf that is his United career, only they are made of dogsh*t and they hold together a collection of uninspiring and forgettable managerial moments.
Even though ten Hag did quite well somewhere in the middle by winning the Carabao Cup and finishing third, the 4-0 humiliation at Palace was the worst we’ve seen from a United side in the post-Ferguson era… or was it?
Here at Paddy Power News, we don’t think it was and have decided to drag up some painful memories for the United faithful.
Below you’ll find a list of United matches where the result and performance make the Palace match feel like its May 1999. Yes, they are that bad!
Man City 4-1 Man United – September 2013
It was a baptism of fire for Moyes as he took the Champions to the Etihad and oversaw a spanking. This was a United side that won the title by 11 points four months prior, yet they had somehow managed to transform into a mid-table side very quickly.
Life didn’t improve for the manager who was gone by April.
MK Dons 4-0 Man United – August 2014
Humbled by a side two divisions below them and failing to register a shot on target until the 72nd minute, this was a remarkable night for all MK Dons fans, and a truly forgettable one for anybody associated with United. The club announced the £60m signing of Angel Di Maria on the same night, who ironically will be remembered with even less enjoyment than this tragic result.
Man United 1-6 Spurs – October 2020
United were 1-0 up after two minutes and then a silly sending off for Anthony Martial changed the game. Still, it was only one player who got sent off, not five players. How did they go on to let in six goals at home? It remains a mystery.
Man United 0-5 Liverpool – October 2021
Where do you even begin? Surely at that level of the game you can park the bus, shut up shop, or defend for your life. No, not this United side – their style Under Ole was all about how many gaps and how much space they could offer their opponent.
A rampant Salah and his Liverpool teammates were delighted with United’s selfless display, allowing Liverpool to strengthen their goal difference.
Watford 4-1 Man United – November 2021
A side who only managed six league wins all season and ultimately got relegated still demolished United on their own turf. It was a mauling and a genuine high moment in what was a poor season for Watford.
For United, the worst part was that it wasn’t totally unexpected.
Brighton 4-0 Man United – May 2022
There’s something in that score line isn’t there? Four goals down within the first half hour was probably the most memorable moment of the Rangnick tenure, and this was a United side consisting of Ronaldo, Cavani, Varane, Maguire, De Gea and Fernandes.
Liverpool 7-0 Man United – March 2023
After 40 minutes, some United fans will have you believe they were the better side and deserved to be ahead.
From there, only God knows what went wrong. United showed as much strength as a wet paper bag with a 20kg dumbbell in it.
Total and utter capitulation and definitely the worst defeat in the club’s post-Fergie era.
*Paddy Power’s football coverage is pure fantasy – don’t believe it for a second.
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