‘Criminal’ Man Utd star criticized as Red Devils put in one of ‘worst performances in 35 years’

Man Utd defender Diogo Dalot was singled out for his “criminal” defending as the Red Devils lost 3-0 to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford was a chance for these top four contenders to kick-start campaigns that had started similarly wrong.

But a month that started for Man Utd with a 3-0 home defeat against Liverpool ended in another defeat at Old Trafford with the same result as Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored for Spurs.

Skipper Bruno Fernandes’s dismissal for a challenge on James Maddison at the end of a one-sided first half made matters worse and ruled him out of next weekend’s trip to Aston Villa and two further games.

Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount were also forced out injured in a nightmare afternoon for Ten Hag. who is in the spotlight while Man Utd travel to Porto and Villa Park before the international break.

And former Man Utd defender Danny Simpson insists Dalot showed “criminal” defense for Johnson’s first goal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Simpson said on MUTV: “I see the cross coming and the fact that Brennan Johnson has so much space at the back post I think is criminal. “I think that’s Dalot’s position. I’m not sure if he played in midfield or full-back and he needs to recover.”

Simpson added: “After two or three minutes it’s obviously a disaster. I think the goal was really bad from start to finish.

“We need to be better at closing the space and reacting, and everyone needs to come over and shuffle over. I think, Ugarte, he could have reacted quicker and gotten over it, then he reacted too late at that point.”

Simpson added: “Diogo Dalot put his hands up and apologized – but you can’t allow that at any level.”

MORE ON ANOTHER MAN UTD DEFEAT
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Jamie Redknapp also criticized Dalot on Sky Sports. The former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder said: “It’s so bad from Dalot. There you see him. We highlighted him right on the other side of the field. As a left-back you think: just go back in, follow the run, follow it, follow it.

“He doesn’t do that. He’s jogging. From his point of view, that’s so bad.”

Respected journalist Henry Winter described the Red Devils’ performance against Spurs as “one of the worst” he had seen from a Man Utd team in 35 years.

Winter continued writing X: “I’ve seen some poor #MUFC performances here over the last 35 years and this is one of the worst.

“Lack of backbone, organization, belief, discipline, leadership, ideas. Only Garnacho and Onana can hold their heads high. Otherwise United will be embarrassed.”