Eriksen says Man Utd players must take blame for Selhurst Park rout

Christian Eriksen believes Manchester United’s players must take the blame after their miserable season hit a new low with Monday’s 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Erik ten Hag’s injury-hit Red Devils were torn apart by Palace as Michael Olise scored a wonderful brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell.

United’s 13th loss of the Premier League season – their most in a league campaign since 1989-90 (16) – leaves them eighth in the table and facing an uphill battle to qualify for Europe.

They have now conceded 81 goals across all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since they shipped the same number in 1976-77.

While the manner of the defeat will only raise further questions about Ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford, Eriksen says the players are primarily responsible.

“It’s a big disappointment. We just had an off-day, and we weren’t in it,” the midfielder told BBC Sport.

81 – Manchester United have conceded 81 goals in all competitions this season, their most in a single campaign since 1976-77 (also 81). Torrid. pic.twitter.com/wvUtMxqIPc

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 6, 2024

“It is what it is. We can’t really change the injury things. We have to do what we can on the pitch to change it. Today it didn’t matter who we played, everyone could have done better.

“I don’t know what the conclusion is for how it went. We weren’t good enough. We tried to do what we could but we were not good enough. We’ll take the blame as players.”

Since the start of last season, only Nottingham Forest (five) have lost more away Premier League games by a margin of four or more goals than United (three), with the Red Devils also going down 4-0 at Brentford and 7-0 at Liverpool last term.

They now trail sixth-placed Newcastle United by two points and are behind seventh-placed Chelsea on goal difference, with fixtures against Arsenal, Brighton and Hove Albion and Newcastle to come this season.