In the world of football, yesterday's glory sometimes fades today. Take Manchester United, for exampleTen Hagand his side fell from the peak of the Premier League's best honour in November to the trough of a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. At that moment, Ten Hag stood like a statue on the sidelines of Old Trafford, a sight to behold.
In this game, Ten Hag's decision was controversial. He insisted on a left-footed centre-back, with Luke Shaw playing at centre-back and authentic defenders Evans and Raphael Varane on the cold bench. This rotation strategy is hard to understand. What's even more puzzling is that Ten Hag's preference for Anthony Martial was even mentioned before the game that he was considering renewing his contract. However, Anthony Martial's performances on the pitch have hardly had any positive impact on United.
United's defeat in this game was not just technical. It's more of a spiritual issue. The pre-match load of accolades seemed to make them complacent and underestimate their opponents. And when Bournemouth were in full swing, the performance of the Manchester United players was even more disappointing. They were unable to maintain a high level of form for long, and that was evident against Chelsea.
The most heart-wrenching thing is that Manchester United's forward line has been dismal. Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and £73 million Hojlund have all failed to make a difference in the game. Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, by contrast, showed the value of the striker perfectly.
Bournemouth's goal, almost all of which seized on Manchester United's defensive holes. From Solanke's opening goal to Billing's header to Senesi's shot, every goal was a reminder of how fragile their defence can be. The boos from the United fans on the pitch summed up the game best.
Losing to Bournemouth was not only a defeat in one game, but also a disgrace. It was Bournemouth's first away win over Manchester United, and the shame is unspeakable. Manchester United have been in an abysmal form at home this season, losing as many games as they did in the previous 57 games combined.
With a crucial upcoming game against Bayern Munich, United will have to make a change. Ten Hag will need to revisit his tactical layout and personnel. The team's mental outlook also needs to be greatly improved. Only then will they be able to remain competitive in the Champions League, otherwise more humiliation will follow.
Ten Hag's post-match comments showed he was aware of the problem. He admitted that the team had already lost in the opening stages, and he mentioned the team's concentration and mentality issues. However, these words do not immediately solve the dilemma that United are now facing. The team needs more than rhetoric, but action on the pitch.
Overall, this game was a huge wake-up call for Manchester United. If Ten Hag and his team don't learn their lessons in time and change their tactics, then their games ahead will be even tougher. As Manchester United fans, we can only hope that the team can find their form in the upcoming games and get back to winning ways.