More than 11 years after leaving Old Trafford victorious with Athletic, Andoni Iraola returned as a coach to the Theater of Dreams and won it back in style with Bournemouth, who mercilessly thrashed Manchester United. A very hard blow for Erik ten Hag's project and a boost for The Cherries, who have 19 points, 10 above the relegation zone. [Narrative and statistics (0-3)]
Only three days after their convincing victory against Chelsea (2-1) the Red Devils once again offered their worst version, fortunately for Bournemouth, who, through goals from Dominic Solanke, Philip Billing and Marco Senesi, achieved the best victory of the season and added its fourth win in the last five games. And it could have been even more bloody, if Peter Bankes had not annulled, after VAR intervention, the 0-4 in the third minute of added time due to a previous handball by Dango Ouattara.
Iraola, discussed until not so long ago, returned confidence to the club with one of his best games ever, nullifying United at home, suffocating them with high pressure and converting the chances they had, thanks to a superb Solanke.
In the 5th minute, the pressure from above bore its first fruits when Scott McTominay, hero with a double against Chelsea, was forced to a ball and Lewis Cook stole his wallet. The United defense, too passive, watched as Cook's low cross was finished off by Solanke at the near post.
A post and two goals disallowed
The worst possible start for a United that was coming off a Friday in which it received the awards for best player of the month in the Premier (Harry Maguire), best coach and best goal (Alejandro Garnacho), a simple mirage in this team, which Even a modest team like Bournemouth can dominate in its fiefdom with apparent simplicity.
Because the first half of the locals was embarrassing, inappropriate for a club of this caliber and only one post, in a shot by Solanke, and an offside, in a goal disallowed by Marcus Tavernier, avoided a major punishment. But United would not always escape, sentenced after the break.
Solanke, in more of a role as the initiator of the play, led a counterattack, opened towards the wing for Tavernier and the Englishman put a cross into the small area that Billing finished off on goal.. The 0-2 was already a slap in the face for Ten Hag, but what happened next was worse and left him on the tightrope. At 73 minutes, Senesi, after a corner, made it 0-3 and already in injury time, with the game practically over, Bournemouth's attack line continued to press. Only the intervention of the VAR prevented the score from 0-4.
Liverpool provisional leadership
The few people who were left at Old Trafford and who had not left with the 0-3 score began to boo Ten Hag, in what could be the end of his project. Access to the Champions League round of 16 requires a win against Bayern Munich, combined with a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray. Next weekend there is the duel against Liverpool, provisional leader of the Premier.
After a very tough game at Selhurst Park, Jurgen Klopp's team was able to complete their comeback against Crystal Palace in added time. After the 1-0 scoreline, created by Jean-Philippe Mateta from the penalty spot, the Reds were only able to turn the score around after Jordan Ayew was given a double yellow card. After Mohamed Salah's equalizer, the Egyptian's 200th goal in the Reds' shirt, victory took until the 91st minute, when Harvey Elliott sent Roy Hodgson's box to the canvas.