Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat to Crystal Palace in the 36th round of the 2023/24 Premier League. From this game, we can summarize the following five key points.
#1 Casemiro's future is in jeopardy
Casemiro continued his slump against Crystal Palace as the Brazilian made a mistake in at least two of United's conceding goals. He was forced to play in a reluctant centre-back position, but that wasn't the main reason for his poor performances. Casemiro is unlikely to remain at Manchester United after the end of the season due to his recent poor form, and he could be a top target on United's purge list in the 2024 summer transfer window.
#2 Michael Olise needs to reconsider his idea of joining Manchester United
Manchester United were originally strong candidates to sign Michael Olise in the summer of 2024. But after the early morning game, many felt he should reconsider whether to join Manchester United, who are in such poor form. However, United's interest in him does not seem to have waned. Olise showed his quality with a brace. The question now is whether Olise himself would like to join Manchester United.
#3 Kobe Mainu Needs More Support
In the defeat to Crystal Palace, young player Kobe Mainu was one of the worst performers on the field. But it's clear that it was his teammates who got him into such a predicament. Mainu's midfield pairs Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount were slow and weak in the game. Mainu alone could not take on all the responsibilities of the midfield, so his performance suffered. With his potential and talent, Mainu needs to be supported by better teammates to help him develop to a higher level.
#4 Erik ten Hag's future is uncertain
In the 80th minute of the game, United and Crystal Palace fans chanted in unison "You'll be sacked tomorrow morning", a slogan that echoed around Selhurst Park. Their wishes may soon become a reality. The defeat was reminiscent of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's previous defeat to Watford, which ultimately led to his sacking. The question now is, will United decisively sack Erik ten Hag to save the season, or will they choose to accept to face such a dilemma again from next season?
#5 Manchester United are gearing up for the FA Cup final
Most Manchester United fans want the Premier League season to end now. The Red Devils may not be able to play in any European competitions next season, but that doesn't seem to matter anymore. Right now, Manchester United's main concern may be the upcoming FA Cup final. This could be Ten Hag's last chance to salvage his hopes this season. Alternatively, it could have been the last straw that ended the Dutch coach's coaching career at Manchester United. In any case, this will be the only important game that United are currently focusing on.