Gary Neville believes Manchester United have “hit a new low” following their humiliating four-goal loss at Brentford on Saturday evening.
It was another humbling occasion for United’s new boss Erik ten Hag – coming less than a week after his opening match in charge saw his side slip to a home defeat against Brighton. Ten Hag confessed that he “felt sorry” for the club’s fans after his side’s sorry showing in West London.
Four goals in 25 first half minutes from Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbuemo left a shell-shocked United reeling and unable to respond. Cristiano Ronaldo snubbed a request from the club’s assistant coach Steve McClaren to acknowledge the travelling United fans after the game – showing the disillusion engulfing the club.
It is a continuation of a damning trend for United, who lost each of their last six Premier League away matches last season. That run of matches saw them scored just two goals, while conceding 17 as their form collapsed.
Indeed, United have won just four of their last 17 matches across all competitions – an appalling run of form that dates back to their 4-2 win at Leeds in February. It is a trend of form that should set all sorts of alarm bells ringing.
The club’s former defender Neville spoke of this after the game, acknowledging that the rot in form had long been set. However, he also highlighted that this humbling against the Bees was a new low for the club.
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Neville explained on Sky Sports after the match: “Man Utd have proved under three different managers that they don't work as hard as the teams they are playing. How long have we been saying that hard work beats talent when talent does work hard.
“That Man Utd team doesn't work hard enough, they don't run fast enough, but they are drained of all confidence. They are struggling badly and they have been for 12 months. They're not being helped and maybe someone would say they don't deserve help. I've been in struggling teams and you can see they're suffering and that has to come from above. But today was a new low - and it seems like continually Man Utd can surpass their previous lows. When is the lowest low going to come.”
United's season doesn't get any easier with Liverpool their next task at Old Trafford in a little over a week. The Reds hit nine goals past their rivals in two games last term and Ten Hag's side will be aiming to avoid three defeats to open the season. Their reverse in London was the sixth time they've shipped four or more on the road since the start of last season.