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Manchester United fell to a 3-2 defeat against Newcastle on Sunday — its second successive loss. It is early in the season, but the club has not shown that it can actually win matches, much less challenges for trophies. For months now, United has been pummeled and pummeled with questions about manager Jose Mourinho’s ability to turn this team around.
Take a look at the latest chart from Harry Herring at KitCasa.
There are plenty of issues at Manchester United. But this chart shows that the most pressing ones were the absence of a midfield player, an undeniable defensive weakness and the inability to score goals.
After seeing the Manchester United board give him a two-year contract extension on Thursday, Mourinho is clearly getting frustrated with the lack of time his players and organisation are giving him to turn things around. The club has now lost three league games in a row for the first time since 1981, when they also began a disastrous season with three defeats.
Mourinho’s worst fears were realised on Sunday when the side led 2-0 after only 35 minutes. That wasn’t anything new for United, who could not hold that lead in their 2-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday and had to settle for an extra-time win.
Newcastle had chances to equalise in the second half, but not to win. It looked like a team on a mission was getting to its first win.