New record: Manchester United register most defeats before Christmas since 1930
Goals from West Ham added to mounting pressure on Man Utd, resulting in 2-0 defeat
December 23, 2023
Manchester United bagged an unwanted record after their 13th loss in all competitions this season, in a disappointing match against West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus added to the mounting pressure Man Utd, resulting in a 2-0 defeat, which also marked their eighth Premier League loss this season.
Erik ten Hag's team was overwhelmed by West Ham's late goals, as they are already in eighth position, having secured just one victory in seven games across all competitions.
They have lost three of their last four matches and failed to score in any of them for the first time since 1992.
Today's loss registered the most defeats for the United before Christmas since 1930-31 when they finished bottom of the table.
It's yet another tough setback for Ten Hag, whose increasingly fragile grip on his position is likely to be the foremost concern for Jim Ratcliffe when the British billionaire eventually completes the purchase of a 25% stake in the club.
Ratcliffe is said to be poised to assume control of United’s football operations as part of the agreement with the American owners. Upon his arrival at Old Trafford, he'll find the club amidst one of its bleakest periods in history.
It has been a wretched second season for Ten Hag, whose team has been eliminated from Europe after finishing bottom of their Champions League group, while also crashing out of the League Cup.
This season has been particularly dismal for Ten Hag. His team has been ousted from Europe after finishing at the bottom of their Champions League group, alongside an early exit from the League Cup.
Despite this, Ten Hag holds onto hope, believing that United can "rewrite the narrative" once key players recover from their injuries.
Nevertheless, this woeful capitulation against a team that had previously suffered a 5-1 defeat by Liverpool’s reserve squad in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday highlighted the depths to which United have plunged under the troubled Dutch manager.
