Liverpool icon Didi Hamann says Man United WON’T make it past the Champions League group stage after woeful result against Copenhagen… adding that the club ‘feels like a shadow of its former self’
- Erik ten Hag’s side lost 4-3 to Copenhagen after building up an opening lead
- GROUP A PERMUTATIONS: United have no chance if they lose to Bayern Munich
- Can Liverpool challenge for the title? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
Liverpool icon Didi Hamann offered a damning verdict on Manchester United’s Champions League hopes after the side’s 4-3 defeat to Copenhagen on Wednesday night.
Erik ten Hag’s were unable to do the double over the Danish outfit at their home ground Parken, blowing an early 2-0 lead to head into the dressing rooms level at half-time.
Hampered by a first-half red card for Marcus Rashford, the 10-man side took the lead again in the second-half thanks to a spot-kick from Bruno Fernandes, but were unable to put the tie to bed.
A last-gasp effort from teenage prospect Roony Bardghji handed the home side their first win against European top-flight opposition since beating the Red Devils in 2006, and relegated the visitors to the bottom of Group A.
With a tense away clash against Galatasaray and a meeting with Bundesliga behemoths Bayern Munich to come, United will have to record back-to-back wins should they wish to progress to the knockout stages.
Manchester United were unable to see out a win on the road vs Copenhagen on Wednesday
Head coach Erik ten Hag stressed his side’s resilience but are faltering at home and abroad
Didi Hamann suggested that the club were ‘a shadow of their former selves’ this campaign
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But Hamann was pessimistic about the possibility of Ten Hag’s men turning their European season around, as he decried their significant goal deficit in the wake of their third Champions League loss in four.
‘They have conceded 11 goals in the group after four games,’ Hamann said on punditry duty for Sky Sports Austria. ‘I don’t think Manchester United will progress.
‘It really is sad what happened to this club. It’s a shadow of its former self.
‘The stadium is falling apart, the team is worthless, so you can only feel sorry for the fans’.
Concerns over the state of Old Trafford have been bubbling up of late, with Gary Neville drawing attention to the leaking roof at the storied ground whilst on punditry duty for Sky Sports.
Fans have shared viral videos of water gushing through the stadium’s coverings, soaking supporters in the stands below.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is on the cusp of purchasing a 25 per cent stake in the club and taking control of football operations, is also thought to be set to pledge £245million to improve the club’s ageing infrastructure.
But industry insiders have claimed that the vast sum will fall well short of the amount needed to fully renovate the stadium.
Such is Old Trafford’s growing disrepair that the ground was not chosen as one of the venues for the joint UK and Ireland bid for the European Championship in 2028.
United’s Champions League travails have been unable to offer some levity amidst a turbulent domestic season for the club, who currently sit eighth in the Premier League.
The Red Devils were unable to keep hold of a two-goal cushion and improve their qualification chances on the road
The game was turned on its head after Marcus Rashford was handed a red card in the first-half
17-year-old Roony Bardghji provided the 87th-minute winner for the Danish club at home
Despite recording a last-minute win against Fulham, Ten Hag will be wary of tests to come against Newcastle, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
But the Dutch manager was quick to praise the ‘resilience’ of his players that he believes will be rewarded soon as they work through a difficult moment.
This squad is resilient and the whole season so many decisions are against us, so many setbacks for injuries.
‘I said to the lads it will turn, one moment in the season it will turn in our favour.’
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