Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has criticised Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha following Sunday's derby defeat to Manchester City. The Red Devils suffered a 1-0 loss at home to their fierce rivals despite facing 10 men for 67 minutes plus added time.
United's poor start to the season
United boss Michael Carrick has now presided over the club's joint-worst opening to a Premier League season, matching last term's poor beginning under Ruben Amorim and the 1992-93 campaign. Carrick took over from the dismissed Portuguese manager on a temporary basis in January and delivered an impressive recovery that secured a third-place finish.
However, United's sluggish opening has placed the former midfielder under increased pressure after being given the role permanently in May. Carrick's side languish in 13th position after four matches, a sequence that has featured defeat at Hull City and a frustrating stalemate at Everton.
Stam's scathing verdict
Now, former United centre-half Stam has delivered a scathing verdict on United and their players. He told Viaplay: "If you look at City and if you look at this game, it was easy for them today, even with 10 men.
"I was asking myself as well: the United team coming off the pitch, what are they thinking? Would they be thinking they've done everything that they can? Is that it?
"Even in playing it out from the back, it was easy, one-two, keep the ball a little bit longer at your feet, somebody else is taking up different positions. You play it, make a little one-two, you're out and they can go and attack.
"Against 10 men, even if it's City with the quality that they have, you would expect United to be on the front foot every time, to be very, very aggressive, even the strikers tracking back. Then, of course, and that's a very important thing as well.
"If you have possession and they are dropping a little bit deeper, use the side, use the width of the game a little bit, put crosses in the box. But now sometimes, you feel like when they're playing, there's not a real idea in how to get to opportunities and how to make it difficult for the opposition to score goals."
Controversial winner and lack of urgency
City's winner at Old Trafford sparked controversy after Erling Haaland's goal stood despite Enzo Fernandez appearing to interfere with play while in an offside position. The Premier League's refereeing body Pro Ref has since acknowledged an "error of judgment" from the VAR officials.
However, reviewing the build-up to Haaland's second-half strike, Stam highlighted what he saw as a worrying lack of urgency from United's forwards in getting back to support their teammates.
He added: "It's a long ball, they win it, City takes over and look at the front four [of United]. They're just walking, they're just looking at the situation.
"A team that really wants to win, the strikers, it's about all the 11, it's about chasing. Against 10 men, it's about tracking back, it's about winning battles.
"From then on, you keep possession, you go out in transition and then you try to create and score goals."
