Manchester United’s woes deepened following a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham, leaving the club languishing in 15th place in the Premier League. This latest setback marks their third loss in four league matches, with only 12 points separating them from the relegation zone.
James Maddison’s goal proved decisive, as United’s defensive frailties were laid bare once again. The team’s season is shaping up to be one of their worst in recent history. With just 12 losses in 25 Premier League games, the club is on track for their worst start since the 1973-74 season when they were relegated from the top flight.
Injuries and Squad Depth
Ruben Amorim’s side has been severely impacted by injuries, forcing him to field a bench at Tottenham that featured eight teenagers, most of whom have minimal first-team experience. Even seasoned players like Victor Lindelof were left to shoulder the responsibility.
Despite these setbacks, former Manchester United striker Michael Owen, who scored 17 goals in 52 appearances for the club, didn’t hold back in his criticism. Owen specifically targeted the back three of Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui. According to Owen, the defenders were ineffective throughout the match and failed to react when Maddison pounced on a parried shot from goalkeeper Andre Onana.
“What frustrates me more than anything about the team is that those centre-halves do nothing during the game,” Owen said. “They hardly pick up any players at all, yet when you ask them to do one job – stop the guy who’s shooting – they’re sleeping at that as well. We’ve seen so many clips in the first half when there’s nobody to pick up, there’s three of them literally doing nothing.”
Looking Ahead
Things are unlikely to improve anytime soon for Amorim’s men. They now face an Everton side brimming with confidence after securing 13 points since David Moyes returned to Goodison Park last month. Everton will undoubtedly fancy their chances of extending United’s miserable run.
However, despite their struggles in the league, United still have silverware to fight for. The team will host Fulham in the fifth round of the FA Cup and will soon learn their Europa League last-16 opponents. With two trophies still on the line, there’s still hope for redemption, but significant improvements are needed in the league if they are to avoid an even more disastrous season.
