Ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has provided a scathing assessment of Manchester United's dreadful performance against Manchester City, even admitting he "feels sorry" for the Red Devils. Let's take a closer look at exactly what the Frenchman said…
Check Out: Ten Hag Reacts To Heavy Manchester Derby Defeat
United suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to the Citizens at Old Trafford on Sunday, in a display that will have fans worried that manager Erik ten Hag is heading closer towards being yet another coach who has come in and failed as opposed to bucking the trend. Last season, supporters were delighted when he claimed the Carabao Cup trophy and inspired his team to a third-place finish in the Premier League, but it appears those memories are being strongly overshadowed by the team's current state, and Wenger has not held back in sharing where he believes his former rivals are getting it wrong.
Wenger: "I would say the gulf between the two teams became bigger and bigger as the game went on. In the end, for such a big club, you felt sorry for Man United because there's no hope there in the team."
Kurt: While I know what Wenger means in his first sentence, we shouldn't pretend the difference in class between United and City wasn't crystal-clear before Sunday's derby. The Citizens have claimed an incredible six Premier League trophies since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, and they're last season's treble winners! They're in a league of their own, they're arguably the best team in the world and this was all well-known before Sunday's result. Regarding Wenger's remark about United looking to be totally hopeless, I couldn't agree more. As a fan of the club since the 1990s, there've been only a handful of times I've felt a complete disconnect from the team and the players, and this is one of those times.
Wenger: "I don't see where they can improve, basically. This team has lost confidence, quality and even spirit today. I would say it was not a great fighting spirit from Man United, on top of that."
Kurt: Looking at this current group of players and the way they're playing football at the moment, it is difficult to imagine Ten Hag being able to drastically change the team's fortunes. You get the feeling that United are a long way away from actually challenging teams such as City and Arsenal for the league title, especially when they're without a defensive midfielder capable of carrying the ball from deep! Sofyan Amrabat looked totally clueless at times before being substituted at half-time, and the player who perhaps would have been playing instead – Casemiro – has not looked the part himself either this season.
Wenger: "I believe where Man United suffers a lot, first of all, is about the quality, the individual quality of the players. And I felt today they were very poor to build the game up from the back. They gave the ball so many times to the goalkeeper when they had possibilities to play forward. I would stay it started there. Then you make the whole team uncertain and lack confidence because when you feel the fear is behind, they do not want the ball."
Kurt: With this, I do believe the performances from some players in the squad isn't an accurate reflection of their ability. Many of these same guys helped the Red Devils to two cup finals last season, like Marcus Rashford. At the moment, the England international can't seem to do anything right in front of goal, and this must be due to a loss of confidence and not because he has lost his talent overnight. When it comes to Wenger's assessment of United's playing out from the back, I can't argue. Ten Hag has had a lot of time to implement a structure and a shape, yet the players still seem unsure of themselves when trying to progress the ball. When you consider that Roberto De Zerbi was able to get Brighton Hove Albion looking like prime Barcelona just weeks after his appointment last year, excuses can't really be made for Ten Hag.
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