Alan Shearer thinks this is the ‘worst Man United team’ he has ever seen – even when they’re fully fit.
While an FA Cup final win could give them some cheer, Manchester United’s season lurches from calamity to calamity.
They’re on course for their lowest-ever Premier League finish, have lost a record 13 games in the rebranded top flight, and have conceded 71 goals in all competitions, the most since 1971.
They went out of the Champions League in the group stages, recently got hammered 4-0 by Crystal Palace, and have now lost 1-0 to Arsenal with an insipid performance and an Old Trafford roof leak.
‘I think that’s the worst Man United team I’ve seen in my lifetime,’ Shearer, who was born in 1970, summed up on The Rest Is Football.
Alan Shearer believes he is watching the ‘worst Man United team I’ve seen in my lifetime’
United are on course for their worst-ever Premier League finish and have won just one of their last eight
‘You can’t fault their effort – they tried (against Arsenal).
‘But in terms of ability, and I know they’ve got loads of injuries, but would you argue against me being the worst in my lifetime that I’ve seen?’
Injuries are definitely a mitigation – United have suffered more than 60 first-team absences this season.
However, they don’t crack the top three in the Premier League for cumulative games missed due to injury.
While United players have missed 233 games thanks to their football war wounds, Brentford are on 255, Newcastle 258, and Chelsea a peerless 309.
While Erik ten Hag has been forced to improvise with 14 different centre-back pairings and slotting Casemiro at the heart of the defence, there is little excuse for the Brazilian’s failure to push up before Arsenal scored.
‘They’ve been in decline for such a long time that it is going to take them a long time to get anywhere near. They’re miles off it,’ Shearer added.
‘Even the players that you mentioned who are out injured, even if they are all fit, it’s still going to take them a long time to be challenging, to be where City are or where Liverpool have been or Arsenal.
Micah Richards feels that United’s young stars are having to take on too much responsibility
United’s torrid season continued on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Arsenal at Old Trafford
‘They’re a million miles away, even with those.’
Micah Richards expressed sympathy for United’s young stars who have shouldered such a burden.
Considerable pressure has fallen on Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and Rasmus Hojlund.
‘I have to agree (that this is the worst team) because they’re just not ready yet. They’ve not got the guidance that they need,’ Richards said.
‘Consistently having to see young players deal with off-field, on-field, is the manager going to be here? There’s no long-term plan.
‘I feel for the players because at the moment it’s making very good, young, top players look very average – and they’re better than that.’
Elsewhere, Wayne Rooney has argued that some of their injured stars can actually play.
‘Some of those players can play, 100 per cent,’ United’s record goalscorer told Sky Sports.
Erik ten Hag’s side have been plagued by injuries, with the Dutchman naming 14 different centre back partnerships this term
Wayne Rooney accused Manchester United’s players of not wanting to play for the club and feigning injuries
Marcus Rashford (second right) is one of a number of United players who missed the game against Arsenal
Captain Bruno Fernandes (left) and midfielder Mason Mount (right) were also absent from the fixture
‘Because they’re getting a little bit of stick, it’s easy for players to stay out and come back towards the FA Cup final and get themselves right for the European Championships.
‘I’ve seen it for myself over the years. The players who have been injured are not filling themselves with any credit at the minute and the manager is taking all the stick for it.
‘I think the players have to really look at themselves, because when you’ve got your manager doing an interview and he’s talking about attitude, and players’ attitude not being right to play for Manchester United, that is a massive insult.
‘If I see my manager saying that, then there’s no way I just let that ride until the end of the season. And it looks like some players are just trying to get to the end of the season.’
Speaking on Sky Sports, Roy Keane echoed Rooney’s thoughts, saying: ‘Obviously, that’s not a good sign. There’s always a few players at every club I think that can drag their heels with an injury.
‘There’s lots of players out there at certain stages of the season when they have an injury or a lack of confidence and they’re out of it, they’re not in a hurry to get back in the team.’
