Falling against West Ham, Man Utd continues to lose direction

MU continues to face a crisis season after losing 0-2 at West Ham Stadium in round 18 of the Premier League on the evening of December 23.

Holding Liverpool at Anfield in the previous round,  MU  marched to London Stadium determined to win 3 points in the hope of closing the 6-point gap with the top 4. A defeat or draw will make coach Erik Ten Hag’s team unable to win. calming criticism after being eliminated early in the Champions League.

Falling to West Ham, MU continues to lose direction - Photo 1.

MU (right) continues to slide downhill with defeat at West Ham Stadium

AFP

The “Red Devils” have lost 12 of the last 25 matches in all competitions, equal to the number of defeats in 62 matches last season. Difficulties are piling up for Mr.  Ten Hag  as the Dutch coach is still struggling with an unstable squad and losses due to ιnjury.

Top scorer Marcus Rashford continued to sit on the bench, while 19-year-old midfielder Willy Kambwala appeared for the first team for the first time, replacing Raphael Varane – who could not play due to illness. Coach Ten Hag also launched 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the hope of renewing the midfield. 

Falling to West Ham, MU continues to lose direction - Photo 2.

Rashford’s form has declined

AFP

Even though they had to play away from home, MU still created a good match position for more than 1 hour of play. But they could not take advantage of some dangerous situations to score. Wasting the opportunity made MU pay the price with a goal in the 72nd minute.

Striker Jarrod Bowen continues to be the main character for West Ham this season with an offside trap to score the opening goal for the home team. That was the English striker’s 13th goal after 23 appearances in all competitions this season.

Falling to West Ham, MU continues to lose direction - Photo 3.

Jarrod Bowen (left) continues to shine

AFP

Being behind, the away team had no choice but to push their team higher in search of an equalizer. However, a failed ball control situation by Kobbie Mainoo in the 78th minute extinguished MU’s hope of turning the situation around. Mohammed Kudus took advantage of MU’s 18-year-old player’s mistake to double the gap for West Ham.

The 0-2 defeat in London caused MU to face a crisis season, and the future of coach Ten Hag became more uncertain. The “Red Devils”  are stuck in 8th place and will likely widen the gap with the top 4. Meanwhile, a win at home helps coach David Moyes’s West Ham jump to 6th place.