Harry Maguire (Credit: X)
After a dismal display on both ends, United defender Harry Maguire expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s lack of composure and clinicality, stating that the team’s naivety in the final minutes of the game cost them.
Manchester United are back in the trenches again as their 4-match winning streak in the Premier League came to an end against Fulham as the Red Devils slumped to a 1-2 defeat.
The week started with new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe completing his purchase of a minority stake in United and boldly setting out a three-year plan to return the club to the top of English football, knocking local rivals Manchester City and Liverpool “off their perch” in the process.
But, it ended with Erik ten Hag’s side getting mostly outplayed in their own stadium by an opponent in the bottom half of the standings and conceding the deciding goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
After a dismal display on both ends, United defender Harry Maguire, who scored the initial equalizer to bring United back in the game, expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s lack of composure and clinicality, stating that the team’s naivety in the final minutes of the game cost them.
“Overall on the balance of play we didn’t do enough in the first 60 minutes or so. We started the game not great,” Maguire stated.
“The first half was pretty even, but when you’re not playing at your best you have to do the basics right.
“To be a goal behind, I thought our reaction was brilliant especially in the last 30 minutes and when we equalised probably only one team was going to win it.
“We were probably naive in the end by throwing too many bodies forward and getting done on the counter attack.”
United have slumped to a whole new low recently, with their defensive line being in total shambles as reflected by their net goal difference which once again stands at zero, making them the only club in the top six to still have a non-positive difference.
But, they are not the only ones to blame. United’s attack this season has been equally dismal, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes especially slumping to a new low run-of -form. And especially with their only in-form goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund out with injury, United could not find any answers in front of goal as well.
“We got hit by the injury to Rasmus, who has been big focal point for us. But it is up to us to find the solutions and the areas we need to improve on,” Maguire said.
“We can play into him, he holds it up, he starts the press really well, not only that but Marcus (Rashford) has been playing really well on the left.
“It’s the story of our season, we’ve been injury hit, as other teams have, and we need to find a solution quick.”
With their loss, United are now eight points behind 5th-placed Aston Villa, as the Red Devils’ hunt for a Champions League spot continues to become more challenging.
