Bacary Sagna, the former right-back for Manchester City, has voiced criticism towards the Manchester United players following their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night.
This loss marked United’s 13th Premier League defeat of the season, setting a new low that has placed them in eighth position in the table with only three games left.
Their decline has been noticeable since late February, with just two wins in their last 10 Premier League matches.
The series of poor results has increased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag. United have regressed under his leadership this season, casting doubts on his future with the club.
While Ten Hag bears some responsibility for United’s struggles and faces scrutiny over his coaching methods, the players also need to be held accountable for their dismal performance.
According to Sagna, the manner of United’s defeat at Selhurst Park indicates that the players have lost motivation and determination.
He noted the lack of momentum at Manchester United and observed that the players seemed to have given up on the season.
Despite the challenges, Sagna believes that Ten Hag deserves more time and urged to focus on finishing the season positively.
Sagna highlighted the unpredictability of football and referenced Arsenal under Mikel Arteta as an example.
There were calls for the manager to step down, but the situation eventually turned around positively.
He argued against dismissing Ten Hag solely based on one bad season, emphasizing the collective responsibility of both the manager and the players for Manchester United’s disappointing campaign.
While Ten Hag is under scrutiny, Sagna advocates for patience and stresses the need for a united effort to salvage the remainder of the season.
He suggested that this season has been particularly challenging for United, with circumstances seemingly working against them.