Antoni Iraola may have half-sentenced Erik ten Hag. As if the noise surrounding the club and the coach’s decisions wasn’t enough, seeing Manchester United (0-3) fall to Bournemouth at Old Trafford without any chance was a textbook checkmate.
This is an important match. Ten Hag and his team knew this, but none of them were up to the task. Just looking at the eleven, with Martial for the umpteenth time, doesn’t look too good. And so it was, as United had no choice and it was reflected within minutes.
The team was already behind on the scoreboard by less than ten. The ball was played with little tension and Cook ate McTominay’s toast to assist Solanke, who continued his stellar season by scoring with the first touch (5′).
Things started badly. There couldn’t be a worse situation for a team focused on it. Nerves and lack of courage were too much for the team’s play, which was flat and lacking in imagination, with Antony and Martial, again, quite far from what was expected of them.
So, in the centers that no one leads and only Alejandro Garnacho brings out some character, the thing is impossible. And it could have gotten worse before the break, but Solanke sent it to the post. That goal was unnecessary, as two more came in the second half. The first was the work of Phillip Billing, who fed Shaw on the jump (68′) and five minutes later came the penalty, Senesi’s work on a corner kick also ended with a header (73′). And it could have been worse, as Ouattara’s fourth was annulled for handball.
By that time, Ten Hag had brought on Hojlund or Rashford, but he had contributed nothing more than some quality back play. This time, even the miracles of McTominay could not get Manchester United out of the quagmire, which, even after defeating Chelsea, seemed like they were playing in the final every weekend.
match lineup
24
twenty
fifteen
4
5
23
twenty-one
39
9
8
17
1
fifteen
3
10
27
25
24
4
9
19
16
Old Trafford
Net1
Adam Smithfifteen
29′
Milos Kerkez3
Ryan Christie10
Illia Zabarnyi27
78′
Marcos Senesi25
72′
78′
Antoine Semenyo24
57′
Lewis Cook4
87′
55′
Dominic Solanke9
4′
83′
Justin Kluivert19
71′
78′
Marcus Tavernier16
26′
87′
Replacements
Mark Travers42
Chris Mepham6
David Brooks7
78′
Joe Rothwell8
87′
78′
Gavin Kilkenny26
Philip Billings29
57′
67′
Dango OuattaraEleven
87′
91′
78′
Luis Sinisterra17
71′
55′
59′
Kieffer Mooretwenty-one
coach
Erik ten Haag
Andoni Iraola
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
