Manchester United suffered the latest embarrassment in what has been a bizarre season last night, somehow conspiring to lose a stoppage time lead as they fell to a 4-3 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It was a strange game, one in which neither team showed any real ability to defend. The visitors would find themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 20 minutes, with goals from Conor Gallagher and a Cole Palmer penalty putting Mauricio Pocehttino's side in front.
However, Manchester United would recover well from that point. They would be level before halftime, with strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes getting them back in the game. Garnacho would go on to give his side the lead in the 67th minute, an advantage they would hold deep into injury time.
Then chaos erupted.
Chelsea would draw level after Palmer scored his second penalty of the match in the 100th minute, but there was still time for more drama. Palmer would score the winner less than 90 seconds later, being helped by a deflection and some shambolic set-piece defending from the opposition.
A simply breathtaking end to a football match. #CFC | #CheMun pic.twitter.com/DNQz2bmG93
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 4, 2024
This result was a major blow to United's slim chances of securing Champions League football for next season, with their defending a particular worry in recent weeks.
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Erik ten Hag unhappy about question on crazy Manchester United stat
Manchester United are not a good defensive team, but the amount of chances they have given up in recent weeks has been simply staggering.
They allowed Chelsea to have 28 shots on goal last night, the type of figure that is becoming commonplace for Erik ten Hag's team. They allowed a combined 106 shots on goal during their four games in the month of March, an average of over 26 per match.
top of the league pic.twitter.com/rYYVve6S7g
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) April 4, 2024
In fact, they have conceded more shots than other team in the major European leagues since the start of 2024.
225 - Manchester United have faced more shots than any other side in Europe's big-five leagues in 2024 (225). Concerning. pic.twitter.com/mVEgUEEfRo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 4, 2024
It is clear that there must be some clear structural issues in the Manchester United team as currently constructed. Their midfield is a particular area of concern, with United often leaving vast areas of space in the middle third for the opposition to counterattack into, something that naturally leads to shots at the other end of the pitch.
However, it seems their manager is not concerned about the stats.
Appearing on TNT Sport after last night's game, Erik ten Hag seemed offended when he was questioned about the number of shots his team were giving up.
"We deserved to win this game"
Erik ten Hag believes Chelsea didn't deserve to take the three points...
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yhAJRt90tA— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2024
Reporter: Overall in the match, you faced another 28 shots. Those kind of numbers can't be sustainable going into the rest of the season and going forward, can they?
Ten Hag: That is ridiculous. We showed we were ranked fourth before this game in goals conceded, so everyone is talking to each other after. I can't do anything with that.
We have good defending as a team. We have a great goalkeeper, we have a good back four as well. I can't do nothing with such stats...
We are resilient. You have seen today how resilient we are, how we returned into the game, the quality of our football, how we can play outstanding football in moments.
They are real highs, but football is about results. You have to bring that over time.
If ten Hag genuinely does not see this as a big issue for his team, it is a damning indictment of his management.
Manchester United face another big challenge this weekend when they host Liverpool. While they did win the FA Cup tie against Jurgen Klopp's side last month, that was also a game in which they gave up 25 shots.
You get the sense that Liverpool would not be quite so wasteful on this occasion should that be the case once again on Sunday afternoon.
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