Manchester United’s attempt to put a positive spin on a thoroughly miserable weekend has backfired, with the club’s social media team coming under fire.
The Red Devils' historically turgid season reached a new low over the weekend as they were battered and humiliated by Brighton at the Amex. Ralf Rangnick’s side knew they needed to win their final three games to avoid the ignominy of recording United’s lowest ever Premier League points tally.
But on a sobering night, United were pulled from pillar to post, ultimately running out 4-0 losers to a vastly superior Brighton side. The defeat means that United now run the risk of missing out on the Europa League as well as the Champions League and could be forced into qualifying for the third tier Europa Conference League.
Qualification for that tournament begins in August and will put a spanner into the plans of incoming boss Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman is set to take over from Rangnick at the end of the season, with a huge overhaul expected this summer.
A number of high-profile departures are in the pipeline with the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata all set to leave on free transfers. Ten Hag will then have the difficult challenge of implementing his style of play on a team which has looked unable to adapt under the tutelage of Rangnick.
But thoughts of the job at hand are still at the back of Ten Hag’s mind as he continues to place his full focus on the final weeks of his time in charge of Ajax. He has repeatedly batted away questions centred on his new job, instead keeping the conversation firmly about his current employers.
Ahead of his side’s clash with AZ Alkmaar, Ten Hag was asked how he would handle the personalities at United, and responded: "They are questions for the future and not for this moment. I want to answer questions about Ajax. We are in an important race and an important week. I focus on this. I pay attention to Ajax and not to Manchester United at this moment."
And that strategy worked as Ajax took another step towards the Eredivisie title. Both sides gunning for the title dropped points, with Ten Hag’s charges coming from behind to seal a late point, while PSV drew with Feyenoord. Ajax can now win the title with a win in their next game and in an attempt to praise their new manager, United’s social media team came in for some stick.
In a tweet which was swiftly deleted, United said: “Erik ten Hag’s side maintained their advantage in a dramatic afternoon in the race for the Eredivisie title.” United fans failed to find the silver lining and branded the tweet “tone deaf”, “ridiculous” and “hilarious”.
Rangnick has confirmed that he will hold talks with the new boss, but not until both sides have finished their respective domestic campaigns. “We will definitely speak at the end of the season,” he said before the thrashing by Brighton.
“Both Erik and myself want to have our full focus on the outstanding games, he has another three games to play and will obviously do everything to win the league in the Netherlands. We have agreed we will have a chat and speak about everything at the end of the season.”
