BBC Radio Manchester’s Gaz Drinkwater says humiliations suffered at the hands of direct rivals under Erik ten Hag signify the issues at United lie with both the players and the manager.
There were jeers from United fans at half-time and full-time of the 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, as well as when Ten Hag replaced Alejandro Garnacho with Amad Diallo in the second half.
“You don’t want to over-exaggerate because at the end of the day it is just one game of football – albeit a 3-0 loss to one of your biggest rivals at home,” Drinkwater told The Devils’ Advocate podcast.
“Under Ten Hag, it’s not just the fact we’ve finished eighth that is a real issue; it’s not just the fact United finished with a minus goal difference. What also has to come into play is the absolutely humiliating, embarrassing results that we have suffered at the hands of our biggest rivals, which have all been under Ten Hag.
“Man City have beaten us 6-3 at their place and 3-0 at our place. Liverpool have beat us 7-0 at their gaff and 3-0 at ours.
“They didn’t happen under some of the previous managers. It does signal a problem that it isn’t just the players, it’s the manager.”
“I’m sure people, and Ten Hag, will say ‘yeah but we beat City in a cup final and beat Liverpool in the quarter-final’ and that’s all well and good but United don’t batter anyone. We never batter a team ever.
“How many games has Ten Hag actually won by three goals? It’s a serious concern.”
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds