Gutless Manchester United Humiliated In Heavy Brighton Defeat

8th May 2022

With 58 points and only one game left, United’s fifth successive away defeat means they will finish with their lowest points total in the Premier League era

Brighton's Spanish defender Marc Cucurella (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 7, 2022. PHOTO | AFP
Brighton's Spanish defender Marc Cucurella (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 7, 2022. PHOTO | AFP
SUMMARY
  • Manchester United hit a new low on Saturday after they were humiliated in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium
  • Ralf Rangnick apologised after Man United’s dismal season was made worse by one of their most embarrassing defeats
  • After 5-0 and 4-0 defeats against arch rivals Liverpool, a 4-1 loss at Watford that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked in November and an FA Cup at home to Championship side Middlesbrough, it seemed impossible for United to fall any further

Manchester United hit a new low on Saturday after they were humiliated in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

Ralf Rangnick apologised after Man United’s dismal season was made worse by one of their most embarrassing defeats.

Rangnick’s side were routed by goals from Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard as travelling United supporters turned on them.

After 5-0 and 4-0 defeats against arch rivals Liverpool, a 4-1 loss at Watford that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked in November and an FA Cup at home to Championship side Middlesbrough, it seemed impossible for United to fall any further.

Sixth placed United cannot finish in the Premier League’s top four and are certain to miss out on the Champions League for only the fifth time in 30 seasons.

"It was a terrible performance. From the first until the last minute it was not enough, we can only apologise for this performance and a humiliating defeat.

"We just gave too much time and space. We were never in a position where we could stop them playing through our lines. We told the players be as compact as they could but we couldn’t stop it," Rangnick stated.

With 58 points and only one game left, United’s fifth successive away defeat means they will finish with their lowest points total in the Premier League era.

It would be no surprise if Erik ten Hag, the Ajax boss who has agreed to take charge from next season, was having second thoughts about his decision to accept the task of rebuilding a team languishing well behind the standards set by Liverpool and Manchester City.

Asked if United’s players had failed to follow his instructions, Rangnick said: “I don’t think they ignored the game-plan but we weren’t able to stop them.

The United fans massed at one end of the Amex Stadium set the tone for another toxic evening as they chanted for the club’s owners the Glazer family to sell up and held up banners reading ‘We want our club back’.

Not for the first time this season, United’s players failed to lift the gloom.

Rangnick’s team were stunned in the 15th minute when Ecuador midfielder Caicedo scored his first goal in English football.