Manchester United put in a terrible performance from front to back in the defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford.
It is hard to explain just quite how bad Manchester United were against Tottenham. But let’s just run through the opening goal, to sum it up.
After giving the ball away up-field, a Tottenham defender was allowed to sprint 70 yards up the pitch unchallenged, deliver a low cross, for an unmarked winger to tap into an empty net. It was awful.
Erik ten Hag’s side did not improve, going on to lose the match 3-0, and it might have even been more.
Diogo Dalot under fire
Diogo Dalot was the defender responsible for marking Brennan Johnson at the back and he was nowhere near him.
Former Manchester United defender Danny Simpson told MUTV that he was disappointed with how the team defended, and picked out Dalot’s role for the opener.
He said: “I see the cross coming, and for Brennan Johnson to have that much space at the back post, I think it’s criminal. I think that’s Dalot’s position, I’m not sure whether he was inverted from midfield or at full back, and he needs to recover.”
He added: “After two or three minutes, its obviously a disaster. I think the goal from start to finish was really poor.
“We’ve got to be better at closing the space and reacting, and everyone getting over, shuffling across. I think Ugarte, he could have reacted quicker and got over, reacted too late then at that point.”
Simpson added: “Diogo Dalot had his hands up apologising – but you can’t have that at any level.”
Dalot’s role was also pinpointed on Sky Sports, with Jamie Redknapp commenting: “It’s so bad from Dalot. You see him there. We have highlighted him right on the other side of the pitch. You think as a left-back, just get back in, match the run, follow him, follow him.
“He doesn’t. He is jogging., That is so bad from his perspective.”
Dalot weak for Spurs third goal
Tottenham went on to score two second half goals, by which time Bruno Fernandes had been sent off, and is now facing a three-match suspension.
Their third goal also reflected poorly on Diogo Dalot, as he was beaten at the far post as Dominic Solanke scored a tap-in.
Dalot was badly positioned and slow to react once again, after a corner was flicked on.
United have been stuck with Dalot filling in at the left-back position as both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are out injured. Neither are expected to return before the international break.
And while Dalot has done a largely admirable job – this was one of his worst games in a long time.
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