Man Utd player reaction to Mainoo error symbolic of toxic atmosphere

Tom Weber

• Updated: 23 Dec 2023 15:08 GMT
• 3 min read

These days, it is difficult to watch Manchester United, a club mired in mediocrity and riven by turmoil.

In their most recent game, the Red Devils succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to West Ham in what was yet another dull fixture involving Erik ten Hag's team. When Mohamed Kudus' strike to make it 2-0 hit the back of the net, the camera on the broadcast panned to two dejected young Man Utd fans, with one even wiping a tear from his eyes.

While most Red Devils fans won't cry over the loss to their former coach David Moyes, they will surely be raging. Ten Hag's team have gone four games without scoring a goal and the pressure on the Dutchman is once again mounting after overseeing United's worst start to a season since 1930. FootballTransfers' partner site FootballCritic gave no Red Devils player a match rating higher than 6.7, illustrating that it was yet another lacklustre outing.

There is clearly something wrong at Man Utd and it has been evident all season. The only bright spot against West Ham was young debutant Willy Kambwala, who came into the side in Raphael Varane's stead, with the latter accused by some quarters of pulling a sickie.

Kambwala didn't put a foot wrong and he was the only player who consoled 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo after his mistake allowed West Ham to spring the counter from which Kudus scored.

Mainoo reaction symbolic

The fact that no senior player went up to young Mainoo is symbolic of the rotten club culture and atmosphere at Man Utd. Players are shirking responsibility and fending for themselves.

The great argument in favour of Erik ten Hag has always been that he is a disciplinarian. The Dutchman constantly harps on about changing the culture at the club, setting and meeting certain standards, and yet it is clear that his methods are not working.

Even experienced players can't be bothered to keep their heads, be it 35-year-old Jonny Evans launching into a challenge borne completely out of frustration against West Ham or captain Bruno Fernandes getting his fifth yellow card of the season for dissent against Bournemouth, which caused him to miss the derby clash with Liverpool.

Ten Hag is failing on and off the pitch. The culture at Man Utd appears to be getting worse by the day and positive results and performances are becoming increasingly rare. After 13 losses out of the opening 26 games of the season, it is clear that it is only a matter of time before the Dutchman will be looking for a new employer.