Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has taken a swipe at Noussair Mazraoui for giving away a penalty in the Red Devils’ humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
Ruben Amorim’s side were humiliated at home by the Cherries, just seven days after their dramatic late comeback in the Manchester derby.
Andoni Iraola’s side dominated the game at Old Trafford and took the lead through young defender Dean Huijsen, who headed home unnoticed from a free kick.
Mazraoui made an error of judgment to give Bournemouth the chance to double their lead when he mistimed a challenge on Justin Kluivert in the penalty area.
Kluivert rightly cleared the penalty before Antoine Semenyo added a third minute later to secure a comfortable win for the visitors.
After the damaging defeat, Owen minced no words regarding United, who he said are ‘not a good team’.
Noussair Mazraoui struggled in Manchester United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth
The full-back gave away a second-half penalty, which Justin Kluivert gave away to give the Cherries a two-goal lead
Michael Owen has branded Mazraoui’s challenge ‘stupid’ and called United ‘Not a good team’
The ex-United and Liverpool striker was then asked to comment on Mazraoui’s challenge, which earned the Cherries a penalty, and again he didn’t hold back.
‘A bit hasty? A bit more stupid,” Owen said of Premier League Productions. ‘What the hell are you doing? There are two players waiting for him, from there he is not going to score anymore and he dives in.
“Just stand there and send him away. It’s just a bad, bad decision. The sad thing about Manchester United these days is that they’re down 1-0 and you never really think they’ll come back.
‘They’re not a good team. Ruben Amorim must keep an eye on that match and ensure that players who do not perform do not put on the shirt again. That’s how brutal and ruthless he must be.’
The defeat was United’s fourth in their last six games in all competitions and dealt another blow to Amorim’s early progress in Manchester.
The result left United 13th in the Premier League, meaning they will spend Christmas in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 1989.
Many fans expressed their displeasure towards the players after the final whistle, while the boos from those who remained in their seats echoed through the stadium.
And the Portuguese coach claims he felt the nervous energy in the Theater of Dreams from the first minute.
The result means United will spend Christmas Day in the bottom half for the first time since 1989
Ruben Amorim’s reign at United is starting to falter with four defeats in his last six games
“Right now everything is so difficult,” Amorim said. ‘When a club like Manchester United loses 3-0 at home, it is very difficult for everyone.
‘The fans are very disappointed and tired. You already feel it in the stadium during the first match. I understand that, but we have to face it. I felt it from the first minute, there is a lot of fear.
‘We want to score, but we are too nervous. After that third goal, everyone in the stadium suffers: the fans, the players, everyone.
‘Everyone in the club is tired of these moments. We have to face it and focus on the next game.”