Crystal Palace Thrash Man Utd 4-0 to leave Ten Hag’s future in doubt

“I’ll keep fighting and I prepared the team the best way I could. It wasn’t good enough, not by a long shot, so I have to take responsibility for that,” Ten Hag said.

United have only been absent from European competition once since the 1989-90 season.

That came after finishing seventh in David Moyes’ only campaign 10 years ago and the Scot was sacked with four games left in the season.

United have never dropped below seventh in the Premier League era but face that possibility against title-chasing Arsenal, who arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Ten Hag has routinely cited injury problems as mitigating his team’s problems.

The Dutchman was forced to improvise a defense when Casemiro substituted out of his centre-back position, alongside 36-year-old Jonny Evans.

– Lack of fight –

Captain Bruno Fernandes was also absent, as his proud record of never missing a club match in his career due to injury came to an end.

“All season we have huge (injury) problems,” Ten Hag added. “This is the fourth defeat in 2024, so it’s not much and each time we had big problems. Many times we solved it, today we didn’t.”

But there were few excuses for the lack of fight or quality shown by a United team, whose only Premier League win in their last seven games came against relegated Sheffield United.

Palace are unbeaten in their last five games as former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner’s project takes shape.

“In the first half we didn’t play as well as we could have, but we were very efficient,” Glasner said.

“At half-time we made adaptations and the second half was much better. We controlled the game much better, created more opportunities and scored good goals.”

The south London club will have to avoid interest in Olise and Eberechi Eze if they are to achieve even better things with the Austrian next season.

Olise has attracted interest from United, Manchester City and Chelsea and showed why he cut through the center of the visitors’ defense before firing low past Andre Onana.

United failed to get a single shot on target in the first half, but were unlucky not to equalize against the run of play.

Casemiro’s header fell into the net after Rasmus Hojlund collided with Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and was heavily penalized for a push.

But a two-goal lead at half-time was the least Palace’s superiority deserved.

Mateta has been a transformed man under Glasner and scored his ninth goal in 11 games after easily beating Evans.

There was no response from United after the break on a night that could be the final straw for the club’s new board in deciding Ten Hag’s future.

Mitchell scored a rare goal from close range when United were left open from a set-piece.

Onana was then surprised by the power of Olise’s shot that flew past the Cameroonian.

The margin of defeat took United’s goal difference to -3, telling the story of a woeful season for the 20-time English champions.

The FA Cup final against Manchester City offers Ten Hag one last chance at redemption, should he survive in charge until May 25.

However, based on this evidence, United fans will fear that City’s double chase could cause riots at Wembley and inflict maximum humiliation.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)