Bruno Fernandes agrees with 'not fit to wear the shirt' chants after shambolic Manchester United defeat to Brighton
Moises Caicedo opens the scoring with a long-range effort after 15 minutes
Marc Cucurella makes it 2-0 shortly after half time
Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard complete rout as Man Utd slump to their lowest points total in a Premier League season
Manchester United’s directors can only hope their new appointment Erik ten Hag was too busy preparing to manage his current team Ajax as they go for another league title to have watched this performance against Brighton. Because if he had it would be hard to blame him for contacting his lawyer to find a way out of his freshly signed contract. This was a performance of such wretched ineptitude from the side he will inherit, it is hard to know where he might start.
“You’re not fit to wear the shirt,” was the forlorn cry from the visiting supporters as Brighton struck their fourth goal. It clearly struck a chord. “What we did today, what I did today, was not enough to be in a Man Utd shirt,” concurred Bruno Fernandes.
“It was a humiliating defeat,” admitted the interim manager Ralf Rangnick. “It was not only that we lose 4-0 it was the way that we played. Not only poor, extremely poor.”
Unfortunately for the stalwart United following, this was not a one-off. It was the culminating performance of a season Rangnick agreed has been a disaster, one in which United have accumulated their lowest ever Premier League points total and conceded the most goals since 1979.
“I am not looking for excuses or alibis, that was not good enough,” he said. He was right there.
Brighton, on the other hand, were magnificent, thoroughly enjoying their evisceration of a once proud institution. Their manager Graham Potter has been spoken of this week as the most likely replacement should Antonio Conte walk from Tottenham. And you can see why he is a man in demand. While United continue to fail to get a tune out of a bunch of players valued at millions, Potter smartly organises a bunch who collectively cost not much more than the car valet bill at Old Trafford. Such is his expert tuition, there was not one player in the United side who might find a place in his Brighton team.
“A brilliant, brilliant day,” said Potter. “We’ve had to suffer a little bit at home recently. We made up for it today.”
From the off his tactics were clear: chase, harry and smother. After no more than 15 minutes, it was an initiative which bore fruit. A cross came into the visitors’ area which Alex Telles headed directly up into the air. In the scramble that ensued, Pascal Gross fired a shot goalwards which Telles blocked. But the rebound found its way to Moises Caicedo lurking on the edge of the penalty area. The Ecuadorian midfielder who United once pursued, sent a grubber of a shot past David De Gea into the corner of the net. It was his first goal for Brighton and how he enjoyed it.
It was no less than his team deserved: they were quicker, sharper than their visitors, constantly winning second balls. Not that it was hard. Caicedo and Yves Bissouma can rarely have faced such limp opposition in the midfield as they encountered here. Everywhere, to the delight of a boisterous home support, Brighton overran United. And, as United’s discomfort grew, how the home fans relished mocking their diminished condition. Especially when Cristiano Ronaldo was involved, cheering him spearing a freekick high with particular gusto.
The truth was, as Brighton cut them apart, the offside flag was United’s most effective defensive weapon. Certainly a lot better than Telles or the hapless Diogo Dalot. Rangnick attempted at half time to rectify matters, sending on Fred and Edinson Cavani for Nemanja Matic and Anthony Elanga. As substitutions go, the effect was not immediate. Instead, Brighton carried on where they had left off. From a throw in a cross was not cleared, the ball drifting through to the excellent Leandro Trossard, who took a quick glance up and noting that nobody had followed Marc Cucurella forward, deftly steered the ball into the full-back’s path. He blasted a shot beyond De Gea.
The inevitable third was even more of a carve up. Despite his goal, noone in red seemed to notice Cucurella out on the left. A long ball found him. He cushioned it perfectly on his instep and passed inside to an equally unattended Trossard. His assist found Gross, who simply walked through the United defence, before flicking the ball beyond De Gea. The fourth was plain embarrassing. As Rangnick sat on the bench in silence, apparently anxious to head off to Austria at the earliest opportunity, Danny Welbeck, gifted the freedom of the United area, chipped in a cross which Dalot cleared directly into Trossard. An interminable Var intervention decided the ball had hit him on the chest rather than his hand.
Alexis MacAllister could have had a fifth, but he hit the chance against the post. True, Cavani did put the ball in the net for the visitors. He was, however, a long way offside. This United side are so bad they can’t even conjure a consolation.
Brighton vs Manchester United, as it happened:
06:31 PMManchester United's worst Premier League season
58 - Manchester United’s defeat leaves them on 58 points with just one Premier League game remaining this season, guaranteeing that 2021-22 will see their lowest ever points total in a campaign in the competition (previously 64 in 2013-14). Rebuild? pic.twitter.com/LLQS4LTEy8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2022
06:24 PMFull time: Brighton 4 Manchester United 0
Manchester United's worst Premier League season
58 - Manchester United’s defeat leaves them on 58 points with just one Premier League game remaining this season, guaranteeing that 2021-22 will see their lowest ever points total in a campaign in the competition (previously 64 in 2013-14). Rebuild? pic.twitter.com/LLQS4LTEy8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2022
06:24 PMFull time: Brighton 4 Manchester United 0
Full time: Brighton 4 Manchester United 0
A total capitulation by Manchester United on what has been a memorable evening for Brighton.
A magnificent performance by Graham Potter's men, and the party will continue through night.
06:20 PM90+1 mins
90+1 mins
Another good hold by Sanchez to deny Dalot this time.
06:18 PM90 mins
90 mins
Three minutes of added time to come.
06:18 PM89 mins
89 mins
Gross has another go, on the right side, outside the box. De Gea dives onto it and pushes it out for a corner. That needed saving.
06:16 PM85 mins
85 mins
Welbeck goes close! He blasts through the middle of the United defence and is outside the box when he lets rip.
He's really got hold of that, but it whistles just wide of de Gea's right-hand post.
06:14 PM84 mins
84 mins
Bruno Fernandes fires a killer free kick in from the right. Maguire is on it at the far post, but Sanchez blocks.
The flag has gone up anyway.
06:11 PM82 mins: Brighton sub
82 mins: Brighton sub
Trossard off; Maupay on.
06:09 PM79 mins
79 mins
United free kick in a dangerous position on the left.
It's sizzled in towards the front post, but Sanchez commands his goalmouth and holds the ball confidently.
He's determined to keep his clean sheet.
06:07 PMHere's Brighton's fourth
FOUR FOR BRIGHTON!! 😱
A TOTAL capitulation from Manchester United... pic.twitter.com/IOfrBxbfHH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
06:06 PM75 mins: Brighton sub
75': Solly was brilliant today. 👏 He's replaced by Tariq Lamptey. 🔁
[4-0] 📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIvOB3 ✘ #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Sjq0jVqDNk
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 7, 2022
06:05 PM75 mins
Here's Brighton's fourth
FOUR FOR BRIGHTON!! 😱
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
A TOTAL capitulation from Manchester United... pic.twitter.com/IOfrBxbfHH
06:06 PM75 mins: Brighton sub
75': Solly was brilliant today. 👏 He's replaced by Tariq Lamptey. 🔁
[4-0] 📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIvOB3 ✘ #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Sjq0jVqDNk
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 7, 2022
06:05 PM75 mins
75 mins: Brighton sub
75': Solly was brilliant today. 👏 He's replaced by Tariq Lamptey. 🔁
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 7, 2022
[4-0] 📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIvOB3 ✘ #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Sjq0jVqDNk
06:05 PM75 mins
75 mins
Sanchez makes a forceful charge out, jumping high, to snuff out a Untied cross. Brilliant goalkeeping.
Dunk's taken a whack to the back of his head from his keeper there, but he looks fine.
Brighton are flying high.
06:03 PM73 mins
73 mins
Fernandes with another outside of the box effort. It's on target, and powerful, but it's straight at Sanchez. Pretty routine stuff. Man Utd are trying to salvage some pride here, and they're getting closer.
06:02 PM72 mins
72 mins
A great Maguire header from a United corner to force a massive save by Sanchez.
It comes back to Harry and he strikes it towards goal. Cavani touches it into the back of Brighton's net, but he's clearly offside there. The goal won't stand.
06:00 PM71 mins: Man Utd sub
71 mins: Man Utd sub
Maguire comes on for Mata.
05:59 PMThey've shipped a record number of goals this season
📊 Man Utd have now conceded 56 PL goals this season - the most they have ever conceded in a PL season (passing 54 in 2018-19). They had only twice previously conceded more than 45 pic.twitter.com/NBaRmg7NKn
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 7, 2022
05:57 PM67 mins
They've shipped a record number of goals this season
📊 Man Utd have now conceded 56 PL goals this season - the most they have ever conceded in a PL season (passing 54 in 2018-19). They had only twice previously conceded more than 45 pic.twitter.com/NBaRmg7NKn
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 7, 2022
05:57 PM67 mins
67 mins
Bruno Fernandes connects sweetly, edge of Brighton's box, forcing a strong save by Sanchez.
05:55 PM66 mins: Brighton sub
66 mins: Brighton sub
Mac Allister off; Webster on.
05:54 PM64 mins
64 mins
Brighton almost grab another! But Dalot does just enough at the far post to force the ball onto the post and out for a Brighton corner.
05:51 PM62 mins
62 mins
A fine effort by Cavani, off his head... but it's a strong save by Sanchez to deny a United consolation.
05:50 PM59 mins: GOAL Brighton 4 Manchester United 0
59 mins: GOAL Brighton 4 Manchester United 0
It's a total capitulation.
Welbeck chips the ball in from the right side of United's box after wandering through completely unobstructed. Dalot tries to hook the cross off the United goal line, but Trossard is there to bundle it in.
There is a VAR check ongoing to see if there's a handball...
It's given!
05:47 PM57 mins: GOAL Brighton 3 Manchester United 0
57 mins: GOAL Brighton 3 Manchester United 0
Gross is the man this time!
Sanchez plays a long ball up to Cucurella on the left, he takes a few steps forward, before cutting it back to Trossard, who then plays in Gross who eases far into the United penalty area and tucks his shot around de Gea.
"It is turning into ANOTHER nightmare for Manchester United"
How easy was that? 😳 pic.twitter.com/QWWawpa6GZ— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
05:45 PM55 mins
55 mins
Mata with a volleyed effort from the edge of Brighton's box... but it's straight at Sanchez.
05:43 PMIt's a terrific finish by Brighton's defender
"What a GREAT day this is turning into for Brighton!" 👏
A brilliant finish from Marc Cucurella to double their lead at the Amex... pic.twitter.com/0irLtjZpkp
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
05:41 PM52 mins
It's a terrific finish by Brighton's defender
"What a GREAT day this is turning into for Brighton!" 👏
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
A brilliant finish from Marc Cucurella to double their lead at the Amex... pic.twitter.com/0irLtjZpkp
05:41 PM52 mins
52 mins
Mata sends a cross in from the left side of the box. Cucurella gets a solid head on it though to take it away from Cavani.
Brighton counter.
05:39 PM48 mins GOAL: Brighton 2 Manchester United 0
48 mins GOAL: Brighton 2 Manchester United 0
Cucurella!
He didn't have much of the goal to aim at, but he smashes the ball emphatically into the roof of the goal.
Mac Allister plays Trossard in on left, deep, near to the goal line. He pulls the ball back to an unmarked Cucurella, who curls his shot into the top corner.
The AMEX is rocking.
05:36 PM47 mins
47 mins
Yellow card for Dalot for diving in on Mac Allister in a similar position on the left as the previous foul by McTominay.
05:34 PM46 mins
46 mins
McTominay drags Cucurella down, conceding a free kick on the left, about 40 yards out.
05:33 PMSecond half begins
Second half begins
Brighton gets us back under way.
05:33 PMChanges for Man Utd at half time
Changes for Man Utd at half time
Cavani and Fred come on; Matic and Elanga are off.
05:27 PMThe 20-year-old Ecuador international bags his first Premier League goal
100 - Brighton's Moisés Caicedo has become the 100th player to score his first ever Premier League goal against Manchester United. Lift-off. pic.twitter.com/Sv83ifsTEL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2022
05:20 PMHalf time: Brighton 1 Manchester United 0
The 20-year-old Ecuador international bags his first Premier League goal
100 - Brighton's Moisés Caicedo has become the 100th player to score his first ever Premier League goal against Manchester United. Lift-off. pic.twitter.com/Sv83ifsTEL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2022
05:20 PMHalf time: Brighton 1 Manchester United 0
Half time: Brighton 1 Manchester United 0
Caicedo's goal is the only one that separates the two sides, but in truth it could have been a lot more.
Brighton are in control and looking confident as we head into the break. It's been another listless performance from Ralf Rangnick's side.
05:17 PM44 mins
44 mins
Yellow card for Ronaldo for a wild slide on Cucurella. He got none of the ball. It's a sign of frustration from the Portuguese forward.
05:14 PM42 mins
42 mins
A defensive error from Varane allows Welbeck to hit a shot, first time, attempting to chip de Gea.
But it doesn't dip down enough, and it's over de Gea's crossbar.
05:13 PM40 mins
40 mins
Brighton free kick on the right, in a very wide position, about 10 yards out. Gross delivers, it comes to Trossard at the far post. Trossard takes his time, picks out Dunk, who connects, but United scrap to clear their lines.
05:11 PM39 mins
39 mins
Gross with a deep ground cross, from the dead-ball line towards the D of the box. But no-one is there on the end of it. Cucurella surges through from the left, gets ahead of Elanga and tries to fire another cross in, but it's cleared.
05:10 PM37 mins
37 mins
Bruno Fernandes is clipped, earning a free kick a few yards out from the D. This looks dangerous.
Ronaldo takes, but he gets well under it, and the ball doesn't dip down. It's high over Sanchez' crossbar.
05:08 PM36 mins
36 mins
United with a rare attack. They're forced to build patiently as Brighton's off-the-ball movement is slick, closing down red shirts quickly and effectively. No shot at the end of it.
05:06 PM34 mins
34 mins
Trossard fires wide after McTominay loses possession, 25 yards out. Brighton keep knocking, hungry for a second.
05:03 PM31 mins
31 mins
Brighton have been in control of this contest. More possession and more chances, and they just look confident on the ball, trying all sorts of ways through. They're good value for their 1-0 lead.
05:02 PM30 mins
30 mins
Telles shepherds the ball out after a period of Brighton build-up. Brighton corner, Gross to take.
It's sent in and drops to Cucurella on the edge of the United box. He goes for it, but it's deflected out.
05:00 PM28 mins
28 mins
A deep free kick is played into Danny Welbeck on the left side of United's box. He hits it first time, on the volley, but it blazes over.
Creative play - and Welbeck is playing with bags of confidence out there.
04:58 PM26 mins
26 mins
Elanga is down after a 50/50 with Bissouma. They've both lunged for it and Bissouma catches Elanga immediately after getting a touch of the ball.
04:56 PM24 mins
24 mins
Trossard skips inside after a couple of Brighton advantage plays.
Trossard darts inside and gets a shot away, but it's deflected out for a corner. Good determination from Cucurella to win the ball ahead of Elanga in the build-up.
04:52 PMBrighton's opener
"THROUGH THE LEGS OF VICTOR LINDELOF" 😬
Moisés Caicedo gets his first Brighton goal to put them 1-0 up against Manchester United! pic.twitter.com/aYgok6kF8y
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
04:51 PM19 mins
Brighton's opener
"THROUGH THE LEGS OF VICTOR LINDELOF" 😬
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 7, 2022
Moisés Caicedo gets his first Brighton goal to put them 1-0 up against Manchester United! pic.twitter.com/aYgok6kF8y
04:51 PM19 mins
19 mins
Matic with a strong run down the left channel. He cuts inside and is able to square to Mata, who shoots, but it takes a deflection and goes over de Gea's crossbar for a corner.
04:48 PM14 mins GOAL Brighton 1 Manchester United 0
14 mins GOAL Brighton 1 Manchester United 0
Caicedo with an outside-of-the-box effort!
Gross has a first shot, it's blocked, but then it comes to Caicedo, he's 25 yards out and he drives it low into the bottom corner.
There were a lot of players in the way, and it looks like de Gea only sees it late. But all credit to Caicedo. He picked his spot well.
04:43 PM11 mins
11 mins
Mac Allister is caught by McTominay in a 50/50 situation. The free kick is given, but it's a good way out.
Gross sends it into Dunk on the far left of the pitch, it's chipped in, but United get it away.
04:40 PM8 mins
8 mins
Telles chips one into the Brighton box, but it's easily away by he Brighton back four.
United are yet to challenge Sanchez yet. A pretty timid start from the visitors.
04:38 PM7 mins
7 mins
Matic has inadvertently smacked Bissouma in the face whilst trying to turn away from his man.
04:37 PM6 mins
6 mins
March sends a floated ball into the middle of the United box, but Dalot is there to head away.
04:36 PM4 mins
4 mins
Fernandes is nipped by Gross and it's a United free kick, deep in their own half.
04:35 PM4 mins
4 mins
Brighton corner - the first of the game. But it's hooked out and Brighton will build again.
04:34 PM2 mins: Brighton 0 Man Utd 0
2 mins: Brighton 0 Man Utd 0
Trossard chips one from the right side of the box, towards Welbeck in the middle, but the forward can't get enough purchase on it.
04:31 PMKick off!
Kick off!
Manchester United get us under way.
Andrew Madley officiates today.
04:28 PMThe teams are gathering in the tunnel; a reminder of this evening's line-ups
The teams are gathering in the tunnel; a reminder of this evening's line-ups
Brighton & Hove Albion: Sanchez, Veltman, Dunk, Cucurella, March, Bissouma, Caicedo, Trossard, Gross, Mac Allister, Welbeck.
Subs: Lamptey, Webster, Maupay, Lallana, Alzate, Steele, Duffy, Offiah, Ferguson.
Manchester United: de Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles, McTominay, Matic, Elanga, Mata, Fernandes, Ronaldo.
Subs: Jones, Maguire, Lingard, Fred, Cavani, Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Fernandez, Garnacho.
04:20 PMRalf Rangnick speaks with Sky Sports prior to kick off
Ralf Rangnick speaks with Sky Sports prior to kick off
On Monday's 3-0 win over Brentford:
I think in possession that was probably one of our best games. In total, I think that was really a convincing performance and we need the same kind of performance today.
We need to be compact, very close together. Out of that position, hopefully then having our counter-attack moments.
On Harry Maguire's omission:
As we said, we played well [on Monday], we won the game against Brentford in style and there was no need to change the starting line-up.
04:14 PMWarming up at the AMEX
04:11 PMCR7 leads the line today
04:06 PMSome zany headwear on show from this Brighton fan
03:53 PMICYMI: Our chief football correspondent Jason Burt
Warming up at the AMEX
04:11 PMCR7 leads the line today
04:06 PMSome zany headwear on show from this Brighton fan
03:53 PMICYMI: Our chief football correspondent Jason Burt
CR7 leads the line today
04:06 PMSome zany headwear on show from this Brighton fan
03:53 PMICYMI: Our chief football correspondent Jason Burt
Some zany headwear on show from this Brighton fan
03:53 PMICYMI: Our chief football correspondent Jason Burt
ICYMI: Our chief football correspondent Jason Burt
Broke some big Manchester United news yesterday - incoming boss Erik ten Hag wants Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at the club next season.
03:40 PMMan Utd name an unchanged team
Man Utd name an unchanged team
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick sticks with an unchanged starting XI for the visit to Brighton.
Captain Harry Maguire and fellow defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to United's bench after two-game absences, replacing the unavailable pair of Eric Bailly (back) and Marcus Rashford (illness).
Jesse Lingard was again among the substitutes following the fallout of him being denied an Old Trafford farewell during Monday's 3-0 win over Brentford.
Midfielder Pascal Gross has come in for the injured Enock Mwepu in the only alteration to Brighton's XI.
03:33 PMHere's the Manchester United team
🚨 Here's your United starting XI to face the Seagulls 👇#MUFC | #BHAMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 7, 2022
03:32 PMBrighton team news
TEAM. 💙 Here's the Albion XI to face @ManUtd in the @PremierLeague! 📝
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv ✘ #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/mjVE8dFw49
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 7, 2022
12:36 PMGood afternoon
Here's the Manchester United team
🚨 Here's your United starting XI to face the Seagulls 👇#MUFC | #BHAMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 7, 2022
03:32 PMBrighton team news
TEAM. 💙 Here's the Albion XI to face @ManUtd in the @PremierLeague! 📝
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv ✘ #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/mjVE8dFw49
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 7, 2022
12:36 PMGood afternoon
Brighton team news
TEAM. 💙 Here's the Albion XI to face @ManUtd in the @PremierLeague! 📝
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) May 7, 2022
📲 https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv ✘ #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/mjVE8dFw49
12:36 PMGood afternoon
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of Manchester United's second-to-last game of the season, a visit to Brighton, as hopes of Champions League qualification are all but over.
United interim manager Ralf Rangnick said that his request for a striker at the end of the January transfer window was turned down by the club despite the Old Trafford side losing Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood during that period.
Martial joined Sevilla on loan while Greenwood was suspended by United over rape and assault allegations.
Rangnick said that Porto's Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez of River Plate and Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic were on his wishlist but the German was told that "there was no player on the market that could really help us".
"We had four days off at the time and on the Sunday I was informed about the issues with Mason Greenwood and obviously Anthony Martial had already left," Rangnick said.
"I was aware that within four days we had some strikers missing and it might make sense, we were still in three competitions - Champions League, FA Cup and fourth in the league. I spoke to the board... but in the end the answer was no."
Diaz has since joined Liverpool and flourished while Vlahovic has moved to Juventus and Alvarez will play for champions Manchester City next season.
"I still believe that we should have at least tried, if we would've found and been able in 48 hours, 48 hours is short notice but it's still 48 hours, it might have been worth to try and internally discuss but we didn't," added Rangnick.
United have been reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals - 24 in all competitions - this season, with Edinson Cavani's game time limited due to injury and Marcus Rashford struggling for form.
United, who will welcome Erik ten Hag as their permanent manager in the summer, are currently sixth in the league, five points off the last Champions League spot with two games to play.
Reuters