Premier League, 36th day – Manchester United crushed in Brighton (4-0) and almost deprived of C1, Cristiano Ronaldo mute

A football lesson and a humiliating 4-0. Manchester United completely drank the cup on the lawn of an exciting Brighton team on Saturday, during the 36th day of the Premier League (4-0). Caicedo, Cucurella, Gross and Trossard punished the mistakes of a defense – and not only – completely apathetic. The Seagulls climb in the first part of the table while the Red Devils could see their sixth place, qualifying for the Europa League, being seriously threatened. For the Champions League, however, it is over. With 37 games on the clock, MU players are out of the game mathematically.

This one, we didn’t see it coming. Because Brighton, unable to win at home in 2022, was before this meeting – and still is – one of the worst attacks in the Kingdom. Because Manchester United, seriously heckled at the end of April, had rather convinced against Brentford on Monday (3-0), suggesting a positive end to the season. Because the 10th, who has never finished a Premier League season in the first part of the table, hosted one of the ogres of this championship. On paper.

Unworthy attitudes

United did not wait for this Saturday to show that they were very, very far from the standards that made their hours of glory. But on the lawn of Amex Stadium, it was far beyond what we could have imagined. Players, efficient in their pressing, determined from the start, the Seagulls dominated almost the entire game. At the start of a first period where the visitors did not see the sun, Moisés Caicedo logically rewarded the good start of his team with a low shot, on which David de Gea could have done better (1-0, 15th) .

Fred and Edinson Cavani entered at the break, and a reaction was expected. But it was quite the opposite. Insufficient and jostled in the first period, the formation of Ralf Rangnick became unworthy and totally overwhelmed in the second. A few minutes after returning from the locker room, Marc Cucurella lodged a shot from the left in the skylight (2-0, 49th), on an action where the Mancunian defense was disorganized by… a touch. Then Pascal Groß concluded, in front of a passive Raphaël Varane, a walk for the locals, who brought the ball up in front of real spectators (3-0, 57th).

Even 6th place is threatened

United then completely let go when Diogo Dalot cleared Leandro Trossard’s chest with a ball stolen from Danny Welbeck (4-0, 60th). Without the post, Dalot could then have scored against his side (65th). Then Manchester finally decided to try to save his honor, but came up against the imperial Robert Sanchez (63rd, 68th). Of the five Mancunian shots on target of the evening, four arrived after the fourth opposing goal. The symbol of a meeting that could be expensive: West Ham (7th) is only six points behind, with two games less and a better goal difference. Even 6th place, and therefore qualification for the Europa League, is threatened…