“City’s Erling Haaland secured a hat-trick in the previous season when they triumphed 6-3 against Man Utd at the Etihad. This time around, Haaland nearly replicated that feat, scoring twice in City’s convincing 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.
The first goal came from a controversial penalty awarded against Rasmus Hojlund for a foul on Rodri, which Haaland converted. Although initially denied by a remarkable save from Onana, Haaland later found the net for his 13th goal of the season. He could have scored again but instead set up Phil Foden for an easy goal, sealing City’s 3-0 win.
Man Utd struggled to create opportunities as City dominated possession. Despite a few chances for Man Utd, including a save by Ederson from McTominay and a missed opportunity by Rashford, the performance was lackluster and intensifies pressure on Ten Hag.
At halftime, a tactical change saw Amrabat, who had received a yellow card, substituted for Mount. This adjustment left Man Utd vulnerable in midfield and exposed when defending against City’s fast attacks.
Gary Neville criticized Ten Hag’s decisions, particularly the removal of Amrabat, labeling it ‘reckless’ and suggesting that the substitutions worsened the team’s performance.
Neville expressed concerns about the team’s overall performance against City and highlighted ongoing problems faced by the managers in their second or third seasons.
He emphasized the team’s struggle against City, mentioning the cup final’s disappointing display and the poor second-half performance in the recent game.
Neville wasn’t alone in his critique, as fellow Man Utd legend Roy Keane also expressed dissatisfaction, urging Ten Hag to make critical decisions regarding a specific player.”