The manager of Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, claimed he was “annoyed” and “disappointed” by his team’s humbling 3-0 home Premier League loss to Bournemouth. He also acknowledged that his team was “not good enough to be consistent” as the team started yet another period of introspection.

According to captain Bruno Fernandes, the most recent loss is the worst under Ten Hag, with the performance being deemed “not acceptable”.

Ten Hag on the other hand called United’s start “poor” and “no good”.

They never posed a real threat to tie the score after Dominic Solanke’s effort in the fifth minute put them ahead.

It created severe doubts about Ten Hag’s promises that United was moving ahead following the midweek victory over Chelsea, given that the performance at Newcastle was harshly criticized just seven days prior.

When asked if his present club could become consistent enough to be considered exceptional, Ten Hag had to say the answer was no.

“As a squad, we are not good enough to be consistent,” he stated.

“I must admit, I’m dissatisfied and irritated. I had anticipated a different outcome. Our initial approach wasn’t the best. It was subpar.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton claimed that the scoreline “flattered” them and that United was “being schooled in their own backyard” on BBC Radio 5 Live.

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Former England midfielder Jermaine Jenas, a Match of the Day pundit, stated: “You have no idea what the future holds.” I can’t see Ten Hag’s thoughts on the football field, whatever they may be. We won’t see it, in my opinion.”

In all competitions, United has already lost 11 games this season, exactly equal to their wins. In 16 league games, this was their seventh loss. Half of those 16 games have seen them fall behind, and in the first thirty minutes of games in all competitions at Old Trafford, they have given up nine goals.

Furthermore, even though Bournemouth has clearly improved and now has 13 points from five games, no United fan can be optimistic about what lies ahead given that the team must defeat Bayern Munich on Tuesday in order to advance to the round of 16, and that trips to West Ham and Liverpool, as well as a match on Boxing Day against Aston Villa, await after the latter.

“They’ve spent half a billion dollars and still can’t control a game.”
“You strip everything back—the performances haven’t been there,” Sutton continued. Manchester United has had a fortunate season. They have triumphed over teams in the lower part of the table.”

Ten Hag asserts that he must accept accountability for United’s results.

The same can be said of the teams he chose, and for that reason, starting Anthony Martial at the beginning was a mistake.

Much as in Newcastle, Martial had little effect and was substituted, amid thunderous applause, by Rasmus Hojlund just 11 minutes into the second half.

The Frenchman has made 19 appearances this season and has scored twice, so it hardly seems realistic that he should start. Ten Hag, however, stood up for him.

“He had an excellent game against Everton two weeks ago. After a performance like this, I don’t think it’s fair to give the ball to only one player, because he has the competence and talents to play,” he stated. “We as a group failed altogether.”

To be honest, Martial wasn’t the only one who was let down.

With a booking, Fernandes is suspended for the trip to Anfield, and he failed to make any progress against the Bournemouth midfield. In the second half, the visitors exposed Luke Shaw’s lack of physicality, and Sofyan Amrabat was outmuscled in midfield.

It was a throwback to the time, precisely ten years ago, when David Moyes, the manager of United at the time, said his team needed to get better at “passing, creating chances, and defending.”

The jeers that followed the final whistle were dismissed by Fernandes as “normal” following such an outcome.

The same might be said of the hundreds of empty red seats that poked out of the shadows on a day when the weather was just as bad as the home team’s performance.

On Tuesday night, the stadium will be packed and energetic as United attempts to keep their Champions League skins intact.

However, removal will increase the pressure. The Liverpool trip bears unsettling similarities to the same game played five years prior, which resulted in Jose Mourinho’s dismissal. The difference between then and today for United is one point.

“We need to get better as a group. We must become more resilient. Ten Hag stated, “We need to be prepared for the game.

“In this league, if you are not playing on the highest levels you get killed.”