Players To Blame For Man United’s Pathetic Palace Performance – Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen claims that the players at Manchester United “take the blame” for the crushing 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace, which has put more strain on manager Erik ten Hag.

The Eagles’ crushing of the injured and lifeless Red Devils on Monday night marked a new low point for the Dutchman’s trying second season in the position.

Ten Hag’s players lacked focus and direction as Palace dominated the game, handing Manchester United their 13th league loss of the season—the most losses they have suffered in the Premier League.

With three league games remaining before facing Manchester City in the FA Cup final, the former Ajax manager is “absolutely” certain he is the right man for the position and has pledged to persevere.

It’s unclear if Ineos concurs with Ten Hag, but if United plays like they did at Selhurst Park again, they’ll undoubtedly add another set of losses to their already impressive record of 18 in all competitions.

“A big disappointment,” experienced midfielder Eriksen told BBC Sport. “We just had an off-day and we weren’t in it.

“It is what it is. We can’t really change the injury things. We have to do what we can on the pitch to change it. Today it didn’t matter who we played. Everyone could have done better.

“I don’t know what the conclusion is for how it went. We weren’t good enough. We tried to do what we could, but we were not good enough. We’ll take the blame as players.”

The fact United were without 11 first-team players, including captain Bruno Fernandes, five centre-backs and both left-backs, offers some mitigation.

Yet there was still talent on display against Palace and an experienced core of players, like stand-in captain Casemiro, returning Jonny Evans and midfielder Eriksen.

Asked what he put United’s poor performance down to, the latter told Sky Sports: “It’s difficult to say the reason to how it’s going as it is. But I think the confidence, the belief is a big one.

“I think it’s been all of this season when we got the first goal against, we try to come back, but in every good period we have, we concede.

“Today there weren’t many good periods, so it was a lot of running behind the ball and really not getting the ball and doing anything.”

The loss leaves United eighth and facing the prospect on missing out on European qualification entirely. In truth, the only people connected to United able to leave Selhurst Park with their heads held high were the travelling fans.

They loudly stuck with their team throughout and continued in the same manner when their under-performing players came over after the final whistle.

“It was amazing to see the fans sticking around after,” Eriksen said. “Even towards the end of the game, you often see away fans being disappointed and leaving. You didn’t see that today with our fans, which is a big (thing).

“I think also as players we try of course to give them something back and today was far (from) good enough and we take that. We will do what we can to fix it for the next game.”

It seems impossible, though, to accomplish that on Sunday at Old Trafford against table-toppers Arsenal. The Red Devils held the Gunners to a draw earlier in the season, but since giving up two goals in stoppage time during the 3-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium in September, they have significantly faltered.

When asked if Sunday presented an opportunity to return the favor for United’s “amazing” support, Eriksen replied, “Yeah, 100 percent. I think also just on the pitch we want to turn around.

“I mean, we have to work this week and prepare ourselves for another big game. And we have to change it.”