Manchester United’s struggles deepened as they suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Former player Michael Owen delivered harsh criticism, calling the team “not good” and singling out Noussair Mazraoui for a “stupid” mistake that led to a penalty.
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Ruben Amorim’s side endured boos from their home crowd after their third loss in four league games. The defeat leaves United 13th in the Premier League standings on Christmas Day, with only seven points from Amorim’s first six matches.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, soared to fifth place as they continued their push for European qualification. Dean Huijsen opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a header from a set-piece—an area where United have consistently struggled.
Justin Kluivert doubled the lead in the 60th minute, converting a penalty after Mazraoui tripped him in the box. Just two minutes later, Antoine Semenyo sealed the win with a third goal, capping an outstanding performance for the visitors.
Owen expressed his disappointment with United’s performance during a Premier League Productions broadcast. Speaking about Mazraoui’s error, he said: “Calling it rash is generous.
It was outright stupid. Two players were waiting for the ball, and he wasn’t going to score from there. Mazraoui just needed to stay on his feet and force him wide. It was a terrible decision.”
Owen also pointed out the team’s lack of resilience: “When United go 1-0 down, you just don’t expect them to fight back. They’re not a good team. Amorim needs to make tough decisions and stop players who aren’t performing from wearing the shirt.”
After the match, Amorim admitted his team’s defensive struggles, particularly with set-pieces, and acknowledged the challenge of rebuilding the squad. “It’s a tough situation,” the former Sporting Lisbon manager said. “We conceded a foul, and then a goal.
We were winning second balls and creating chances, but the penalty and third goal killed us. It’s hard for the fans, but we need to stay calm and fight back in the next game. The players need to understand that the game has different moments, and we have to manage them better.”
Despite the mounting pressure, Amorim remained defiant: “I knew this job would be tough, especially in a busy period like this. But I am ready to face the challenge.”
For Bournemouth, it was a night to celebrate. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Antoine Semenyo expressed his delight: “It feels amazing—back-to-back wins at Old Trafford. We were clinical, got our press right, and capitalized on their mistakes. We’re taking it game by game and staying grounded.”
As Manchester United fans grapple with yet another disappointing result, questions about the squad’s quality and Amorim’s ability to turn things around continue to grow.
