‘A gillion miles away’: ‘Shocking’ United brutally exposed after humiliating 21-year first — PL wrap

Manchester United’s air of optimism was punctured as Alex Iwobi’s 97th minute winner handed Fulham their first win at Old Trafford since 2003.

The completion of Jim Ratcliffe’s minority stake in United this week and a spell of good form had brought hope of a fresh start for the Red Devils.

United had won their previous four Premier League games to rekindle hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, but a 2-1 defeat leaves them eight points adrift of Villa.

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“Mate they were shocking. I’m not exaggerating, absolutely shocking,” ex-Premier League star and Sky Sports football pundit Paul Merson said

“How they can think they can get in the top four – and what’s the point of getting in the top four anyway? Just to get into the Champions League? They’re not going to win it, so what’s the point in being in it?“

Ratcliffe revealed his ambition to topple Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the English game within three years.

But the work that lies ahead of the British billionaire on and off the field was exposed as Fulham dominated a ragged United for long spells.

“You put all that money in and you watch that today and they are a gillion miles away. … I don’t know where they’re going to catch up,” Merson said.

“He (Ratcliffe) went ‘I want to take over Man City’ – well pull it in, try and take over a couple of the others first.

“The last five or six weeks, they’ve just been covering over the cracks … and all of sudden they got found out today by a Fulham team.

“It’s not like their serial winners who know how to play away from home.”

Merson said he’d be “shocked” if United got “anywhere near the league title” in the short-term.

“If Man United won the league in the next five