‘Final nail in the coffin’: Legends savage Man Utd boss and demand axing as worst-ever finish looms

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has vowed to ‘keep fighting’ despite his side staring down the barrel of a worst-ever Premier League finish after a 4-0 thumping by Crystal Palace.

A makeshift centre-half pairing of Casemiro and Jonny Evans was torn apart by Palace, with Casemiro suffering one of the worst performances of his stellar career.

United has now lost 13 games in the league this season, their most ever in the Premier League era, and their 81 goals conceded across all competitions – so far – is the worst since 1976-77.

They need to either finish in the top seven or beat Manchester City to secure qualification for European football next season, something that is looking increasingly unlikely given their dismal recent form. It would be just the second time since 1989/90 that United have failed to qualify for continental competition.

Little wonder Ten Hag’s hopes of remaining in charge next season increasingly appear untenable.

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“It’s clear and it’s obvious this is underperforming,” said Ten Hag. “We didn’t act how we want to do it and this is by far not good enough.”

Asked if he’s the right man to take the side forward, he replied: “Absolutely.

“If we have the right players available we have a good squad but we miss almost the whole backline and then we have problems.

“I will keep fighting and I prepared the team in the best way I could do. It was not good enough, by far not good enough, so I have to take the responsibility for that but I will find the energy and I will prepare them for Sunday.”

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