Sunday’s result was humiliating but it is now time to move forwards.
The last 24 hours or so for Manchester United fans has been the stuff of nightmares. A 7-0 humiliation at the hands of Liverpool is perhaps the worst result anyone could have imagined. United’s second-half capitulation was unacceptable and has led to the ridicule many would have expected.
It was a shock especially considering how well the Reds had been playing before that point. Victories over Barcelona and Newcastle felt like the markers of the tide turning.
A lot of hard work now feels like it has been totally undone, but the beauty of football is that you do not have time to dwell.
On Thursday, United can begin to put things right when they host Real Betis in the Europa League round of 16 first leg. Before that match though, Erik ten Hag will be on the lookout for signs that they have learned their mistakes.
Sir Alex Ferguson highlighted those exact signs when he spoke to the media following the 6-1 defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford. While he admitted that he was ‘shattered’ by the result, he ended the interviews with a defiant message.
As quoted by The Guardian, Ferguson said: “We have to recover. In the history of Manchester United this is another day and we will recover.
“But that kind of defeat will make an impact on the players. There’s a lot of embarrassment in that dressing room and quite rightly so.”
Ten Hag will be hoping that many of his players are embarrassed by the debacle at Anfield but more importantly than that, he will be wanting to see the recovery which Ferguson mentions. If United were to play passively against Real Betis and not be victorious, a rot could easily set in.
After the City horror show, United went on a seven-game unbeaten run. Following the 4-0 defeat to Brentford earlier this campaign, the Reds beat Liverpool 2-1 in one of their most gutsy performances of the season.
United cannot allow this fluke result to define their year. They have had their debrief and now it is time to bounce back.
Source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
