Look away, United fans – this isn’t going to be pretty.
Some United legends from yesteryear – who know all about how to win games and get stuck in – have, to put it delicately, expressed their view of United’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
On the backfoot for most of the game, mostly owing to the brilliance of Thomas Partey in the centre of the park, United eventually succumbed to defeat via a coolly-taken penalty from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the second half at Old Trafford.
It was a surprising display from a side who had just defeated the mighty Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the Champions League mid-week – and it once again raised concerns for those who follow the club.
And the result saw Red Devil legends Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and Gary Neville, speak out about the dour performance.
"Ole will lose his job working with these players – that's what is going to happen." ?
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 1, 2020
Roy Keane gives a brutally honest assessment of #MUFC's current squad after another defeat at Old Trafford.
? This is a ???? watch! ? pic.twitter.com/4pOYe0yUHh
Keane said to Sky Sports: ‘We spoke before the game about saying being on the front foot, being aggressive, you’re the home team, and there were none of those things.
‘On top of all that there was a lack of energy, enthusiasm, a real lack of quality and that really concerned me in the second half when they were getting in half decent positions and chasing the match but (there was) no quality. No composure.
Scholes, too, went on the attack, speaking to Premier League Productions, after seeing his former side lose in such circumstances.
“It’s as poor as I’ve seen Manchester United at Old Trafford to be honest with you.
“You have to give Arsenal credit, they were very good but on other hand you have to expect more from United and the two midfield players especially.’
Neville was extremely vocal as well, saying on Sky Sports that United’s failure to nab their targets in the transfer window – Jadon Sancho, anyone? – has led to such a rotten start for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.
"There were players everywhere. It ended up being a mess" ?@GNev2 says Manchester United have more problems than solutions and their midfield balance remains a huge issue for the club. pic.twitter.com/bPaevBciTv
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 2, 2020
The former United right-back said to Sky Sports: “Obviously, they wanted Sancho in the summer to play on that side and it looks like it’s a really bad error by not getting that position recruited. I have to say, changing systems and changing players, too many players in certain positions, and not enough in others – it’s a real problem.”
The defeat sees United slump to 15th place in the Premier League table, on just seven points. It’s their worst start to a league campaign since the days of David Moyes.
Now that really takes some doing.