There have been losses by bigger margins, who can forget the 7-0 loss to Liverpool, but the manner in which Manchester United folded without a fight at their home vs a team that barely survived relegation a year earlier was baffling.
United travel to Bournemouth, the same opponent that engineered that nadir and try to claw back some pride.
The Champions League qualification race looks done for so the rest of the season is about winning as many games as possible and hopefully, the FA Cup too.
Here are the key themes that will decide the fate of this game vs Bournemouth-
Press, press, and press
It is a damning thing to say but the reality is, Bournemouth look closer to Ten Hag’s vision for United in half the time with Andoni Iraola.
They press like machines in a proper pattern by identifying triggers and using the sideline almost as an “extra man”. Dominic Solanke’s opening goal in the reverse fixture came as a result of that concerted press.
