Manchester United’s ongoing fiasco reached a new low during Monday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle.
Goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton gifted the Magpies the most comfortable three points they will pick up this season.
But while Eddie Howe’s side cantered to victory, United’s frailties were unravelling both on and off the pitch.
On a night of dejection when nothing went right for the 20-time champions of England, a dejected United hit rock bottom in arguably the lowest moment for the club since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
United boss Ruben Amorim described the defeat as ‘one of the more difficult moments in the history of Manchester United’ and admitted the club cannot rule out the possibility of a relegation scrap.
Few would disagree with the Portuguese head coach who must now find a way of digging his side out of deep-rooted mess ahead of key fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal.
The Red Devils have now posted their worst start to a Premier League season with just 22 points from 19 games and the club slumped in 14th place.
First up, Amorim faces the task of lifting summer signing Joshua Zirkzee who was replaced after just 34 minutes, with United already 2-0 down and in need of a quick intervention.
The substitution was greeted with boos and ironic cheers from large sections of the Old Trafford crowd to the anger and disappointment of both pundits and supporters scattered around the ground.
Reports from pitchside suggested Zirkzee was in tears as he collected his coat and made a beeline for the tunnel…
Fans who booed Zirkzee ‘disgusting’
Ex-Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor believes Zirkzee was made a scapegoat – and fans who booed him should be ashamed.
“I didn’t like it, I thought it was disgusting from some of the Manchester United fans cheering him coming off,” said Agbonlahor.
“He’s a young lad, 23, new signing who hasn’t bedded in yet.
“New signings don’t always come good in the first handful of starts. I just felt sorry for him.”
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He continued: “I just didn’t like it, It wasn’t nice. There’s no more embarrassment than being taken off in the first half, it’s worse than being a sub who gets subbed.
“I don’t think he was any worse than [Amad] Diallo was or any worse than [Rasmus] Hojlund. I don’t think he had to take him off. I think he had to take Casemiro or [Christian] Eriksen off and put [Kobbie] Mainoo in there.
“[Lisandro] Martinez should have been dragged after 34 minutes, not make a scapegoat of Zirkzee.
“Amorim will look back at that and think ‘yeah, maybe it was a bit harsh taking him off after 34 minutes.”
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Supporters turned on each other in the stands
However, not all Manchester United fans piled in on Zirkzee.
“To me, that was disgusting,” said Manchester United fan Lee who rang the talkSPORT studio to express his disappointment at the treatment of Zirkzee by fellow supporters.
“There was a lot of arguing and near fisticuffs in the stadium with a lot of United fans who were having a go at the corporate bookings.
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe is going to reap what he sows here, selling off tickets that are worth £40 for hundreds of pounds to get these corporates in.
“They are slagging off a young player like Joshua Zirkzee when all of the players could be booed.”
United ‘in the gutter’
Meanwhile, many supporters believe the real blame should be levelled at the very top – with serious questions over owners Ratcliffe and INEOS.
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Besides the club’s misfortunes on the pitch, Ratcliffe has caused widespread upset among supporters with numerous cost-cutting measures.
“All we’ve got is broken hearts,” said Alan, a Manchester United fan of 50 years. “People keep looking at the scores, they don’t realise how bad the club actually is.
“This club is in the gutter. I’ve been going since I was six, I’m 56 now.
“I’ve seen it all but in that last month, I’ve never ever seen it as bad.
“People who sit around me who I’ve known for a long time all say the same thing. We don’t look forward to coming anymore.”
