Manchester United's shocking decline hits new low, next up: a do-or-die tie with vengeful Bayern

An absolute travesty, a disgraceful shocker, a complete lack of backbone. Some thought the 2-1 win over Chelsea earlier this week would inject new life into Manchester United's pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League, showcasing a spirited side that stands firmly behind their manager Erik ten Hag. However, there was not a trace of that resolve as they slumped to a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

United's display was insipid, lacking any sense of urgency or ingenuity. They trudged along at a monotonous pace, devoid of ideas, and their inability to deliver a decisive final ball proved to be their downfall time and time again. This loss brought United's tally to seven defeats in just 16 league games. In fact, when considering all competitions, the Red Devils have managed to lose just as many matches as they have won.

The latest blow is an utter disaster, on a par with any of the miseries faced during Ten Hag's tenure. Bournemouth had a goal disallowed for offside, hit the post, and had another goal overturned by VAR due to a handball in stoppage time. If that goal had stood, the final scoreline would have been a more devastating 4-0, a result that United fully deserved. This is now the third time they have suffered a demoralizing 3-0 defeat on their own turf. 

Hardly anyone wearing a red shirt emerged with even a shred of credibility. The stern expression etched on Ten Hag's face as his players trudged off the pitch revealed his seething fury at the woeful performance. And he was not alone in his sentiments. The sight of thousands of empty seats at Old Trafford before the final whistle painted a bleak picture of the pitiful display that had unfolded.

"I'm annoyed, disappointed, definitely," moaned Ten Hag. "We are really inconsistent. We have the ability to do it, but you have to do it every game and every third day. After the 2-0, we broke down so we have to do things better."

For the Dutch tactician, the only minuscule silver lining on a historic day when Bournemouth clinched their first-ever victory at Old Trafford was that Bayern Munich were equally woeful on Saturday night. A crushing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt might provide some encouragement for United as they brace themselves for a high-stakes Champions League showdown against the German champions at home on Tuesday.

Omar Marmoush, Eric Ebimbe and Hugo Larsson drove the hosts to a commanding 3-0 lead in a mere 36 minutes. Joshua Kimmich managed to pull one back before Ebimbe and Ansgar Knauff found the net for Frankfurt, making them the first team to score five goals against Bayern in the first 60 minutes of a league game since 1975. 

This was Bayern's first league defeat of the season, and it is highly improbable that they will be as abysmal again. In fact, Bayern could very well unleash their frustrations and inflict another resounding defeat on the wildly inconsistent United, as it remains uncertain which version of the team will show up from one game to the next.

The consequences of their upcoming fixtures are dire. A defeat against Bayern in the midweek clash would result in their European dreams being shattered. And if they were to stumble against Liverpool at Anfield, a venue where they were mercilessly crushed 7-0 last season, doubts would undoubtedly creep in regarding their prospects of European football at Old Trafford next year, let alone the prestigious Champions League.

While United often provide neutral fans with enthralling entertainment and narrative twists in an otherwise predictable football landscape, for their devoted supporters, it feels like an interminable descent into a nightmarish abyss with no end in sight.