De Ligt: Man United lacked urgency in Everton defeat | OneFootball

Manchester United succumbed to a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford against Everton, ending their run of five unbeaten games.

The Red Devils had the numerical advantage for over an hour after an early dismissal for Idrissa Gueye for bizarrely slapping his teammate.

However, Manchester United struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resolute Everton rearguard.

Manchester United had never lost a home Premier League game against 10 men before.

They won 36 and drew 10 of the first 46 times the opposition had a player sent off.

But this time, the 20-time English top-flight champions were slow to move the ball and could not break Everton’s deep, solid defensive block.

Man United defender Matthijs De Ligt ripped into his side for not being good enough on the night.

The Dutchman said (via Tribuna), “From our side, we didn’t do enough. Didn’t make the runs or bodies into the box.

“They are strong in the air, so we didn’t have the players to score from that. We basically played to their strengths.

“These are the main aspects, but we have to look at ourselves, and it’s not good enough.

“We’ve been away and trained for a while together. I just think we lacked a bit of urgency in several situations. They get punished if you lack this urgency.

“If you don’t score, you lose this game. We lacked this hunger to make a difference in the most important moments.”

Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand echoed his sentiment, saying (via Twitter), “Painful watch this. No urgency. Very familiar performance we’ve seen lot over the years at Old Trafford!”

Man United boss Ruben Amorim also noted the lack of intensity in his post-match assessment of the game.

Amorim’s honesty carried weight, but words alone won’t solve United’s problems.

United moved the ball too slowly, pressed without conviction, and never imposed themselves.

That cannot continue, because the challenge only gets tougher from here.

Next weekend brings a trip to high-flying Crystal Palace, who sit fifth and have turned Selhurst Park into one of the league’s most hostile, energetic arenas.

Oliver Glasner’s side plays with ferocious tempo, swarms second balls, and punishes any team that drifts through phases of the game.

If United show the same lethargy they displayed against Everton, they’ll be overrun.

They must rediscover their urgency, aggression, and collective hunger, or risk their season continuing to unravel in South London.

The intensity that was missing under the lights at Old Trafford must return and fast because Palace won’t wait around for them to find it.