Manchester United have hit a new low – but it could get even worse ahead of the Newcastle game

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag under fire (Image: PA)

ERIK ten Hag admitted Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace was the lowest point of their season so far, but insisted he remains the right man to turn the club’s fortunes around.

Injury-hit United suffered their heaviest loss of the campaign as Michael Olise, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, snuck away at Selhurst Park with a stunning two-goal display.

Olise broke the deadlock in the 12th minute and made it 4-0 with 24 minutes remaining, while Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell were on target in midfield for Oliver Glasner’s side.

It was another woeful display from Ten Hag’s side and eighth-placed United could be set for their lowest finish in the Premier League.

United finished seventh in the 2013-14 campaign – their first since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson – with 64 points, but can’t match that total again and sit sixth on Newcastle by two points with three games remaining .

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On current form, Newcastle will relish their trip to Old Trafford a week on Wednesday, which comes after this weekend’s game against Brighton. United may have suffered another blow by then, as they are at home to title-chasing Arsenal this weekend.

The pressure is mounting on ten Hag but he insists he is the right person to turn United around.

He told Sky Sports: “Absolutely. And if the right players are there, available, we have a good team, but we’re missing almost the entire back line and then we have problems.

“It’s very disappointing. Underperforming. Definitely the worst defeat. We should have done better.

“We are aware, as a team performance, that we were not fair, making big mistakes and not following the plan and the script and the rules that we have.

“Yes (a low point), it was very poor the way we scored the goals, especially when we are preparing the team and conceding the first goal is very disappointing.”

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Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher hit out at United after the defeat – and took aim at the out-of-form Casemiro too.

He told Sky Sports: “This is one of the worst-coached teams in the Premier League. It’s not an opinion, it’s a fact.

“I understand that (the backline was not available), I understand, the performance level will drop and your results will not be as good when you are missing your best players, that is obvious.

“But Erik ten Hag needs performances. You have to make us believe that there is something there or that they are working on something. If he were to lose his job, I don’t think he would have any complaints.

“I struggled to see how United would win but I thought Palace could win 1-0 or 2-1 in a tight game. No Manchester United team should be beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace.

“Manchester United’s under-23s, I still don’t expect them to lose 4-0. I’ve never been a coach or a manager, but I’ve been a player and I’ve been coached by top coaches and some of the things I see are just wrong.”

Casemiro played alongside Jonny Evans in the center of defence, but the pair endured such a torrid evening that Carragher believes the Brazilian’s days at the top level are numbered.

Carragher said: “I think Casemiro should know himself as an experienced player, that he should only have three top-flight games left – the next two league games and the FA Cup final.

“He should be thinking, ‘I have to go to MLS or Saudi Arabia.’ I am very serious. He was an absolute great and I’m nowhere near what that man achieved, but I always remember one thing when I retire – leave football before football leaves you.

“Football has left him, at this top level, he has to call it a day at this level of football and move on.

“At that player’s level, he shouldn’t have to go through that, he’s too good a player to put in a performance like that and be laughed at by Crystal Palace.

“He doesn’t play for Man City or Real Madrid, a man of this level shouldn’t have to go through what he’s going through now and he has to say that.”