Manchester United suffered a new defeat against Nottingham Forest

(CNN) — Manchester United took one step forward and two steps back this season as Eric ten Hag’s side followed up their thrilling comeback against Aston Villa with yet another defeat, this time at the hands of relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. Had to face.

Once again, one of the highlights of United’s season so far was an unfortunate save that gave Argentina international Nicolás Domínguez enough space in the box to put Forest ahead in the 64th minute.

Marcus Rashford equalized 12 minutes from time after a mistake by Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner, but Ten Hag’s fragile defense was broken again just four minutes later when Morgan Gibbs-White headed home a 2–1 win. Completed a clever counterattack. Points in the fight against -1 and three significant demotions.

It was United’s second game since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe struck a deal to buy a 25% stake in the club, and if United’s Boxing Day comeback against Villa provided some optimism for the future, this Saturday’s defeat soon Only this revealed the enormity of the work ahead. ,

David Brailsford, the British cycling coach and sporting director of Ratcliffe’s INEOS company, was at the City Ground along with famous United coach Alex Ferguson. There is no doubt that both of them would have gone very disappointed.

According to Opta, United have lost nine of their first 20 league games in a season for the first time since 1989–90, the most league defeats since the previous season.

Gary Neville said that Eric ten Hag is now under pressure. (Credit: Michael Reagan/Getty Images)

After the match, United legend Gary Neville said that Manchester United were “back to their worst”.

“Manchester United are back to the same position: inconsistent and terrible,” he told Sky Sports. “They leave the field as a defeated group. The United fans behind the goal will be very disappointed.”

“I’m not really sure what this Manchester United thing is,” he said. “It’s very hard to watch. I think everyone acknowledged that Eric ten Hag did a very good job in his first season.”

“With the new owner, Sir Dave Brailsford will be in the spotlight week-in and week-out. We’re going to see him in the directors’ box.

“You’ll see what this club is all about, on and off the field. You won’t like what you see right now.”

Neville said that United’s season has been “more down than up” and that some performances under Ten Hag this season have been “well below what should be required at this level”.

United have added only 4 points from a possible 15 in their last five league games, dropping to seventh in the table and nine points behind Arsenal, who are fourth and last to qualify for the Champions League.

Furthermore, the team has already been eliminated from the current Champions League, finishing last in a group that was not particularly difficult, and from the League Cup, which remains the team’s only possibility of winning a trophy this season. Leaves the FA Cup.

United are the only team with a negative goal difference in the first half of the Premier League and only Burnley and Sheffield United, the league’s bottom two teams, have scored fewer goals than United (22) this season.

Antony scored one goal in the Premier League in 2023. (Credit: Molly Darlington/Reuters)

The club have spent big money on players that Ten Hag wanted in his squad, including Andre Onana and Antony, but the Dutch coach is no closer to implementing the demanding style he did at the start of last season. Took over the reins.

After another poor performance being substituted for 10 minutes in the second half against Forest, Brazilian winger Antony ended 2023 with a total of one goal in 33 Premier League games.

In 21 games and over 900 minutes of play in the Premier League this season, Antony has zero goals and zero assists. According to rumors, Manchester United paid US$109 million for his services.

Neville said that the results and performances mean that Ten Hag is now “under pressure”.

“There is no doubt about it. It is clear that they are going to appoint those three posts – director general, sports director and recruitment chief – they will all come and the rest will go,” he said.

“The coach is the one who will have the biggest consideration for them, it’s always the case at a football club, because you can’t fire a coach easily. They’re out of Europe and out of the Carabao Cup. They’ve got to get their players fit. Need to do and somehow try to push towards the Champions League and see where it takes them,” he said.

“But at the moment, it feels like they’re so far away from it and there are six or seven teams that are in a better position than them. It feels like it’s a million miles away.”