Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has described his side’s 4-1 loss to Watford as “embarrassing” and “another nightmare”.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under pressure after his side fell to seventh in the Premier League, as they managed just one win in seven matches.
Captain Harry Maguire was sent off at Vicarage Road and the Hornets also saved a penalty.
“It’s a shame, like the way we played today,” De Gea told BBC Sport.
“The first half went very badly – it is unacceptable for this club and the level of players we have. It was another nightmare. There were some difficulties but I’m serious. not knowing what to say.
“I’ve had difficult moments with this club but we’re in a difficult situation – we don’t know what to do with the ball, we’ve conceded a lot of goals. It was a horrible moment.
“It’s easy to say management and staff but the people on the pitch are the players and they’re the ones who have to score goals and fight on the pitch. We need to look at ourselves one by one and give more to the team. the club and the fans It’s hard to say why there was a performance like this – I don’t know what to say.
“It’s difficult to be in the dressing room now – we’re sad, we’re angry. Personally I’m hurt – it’s a very difficult moment for the whole club.”
Analysis – ‘Many players thought he was going to be replaced’
BBC Sport’s Simon Stone
There are growing expectations Manchester United will sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
While speculation about an emergency meeting of the club’s hierarchy has been held at Old Trafford, the club have remained tight-lipped about Solskjaer’s future.
Many players and others close to the club now think he will be replaced.
There is a real hope in the club hierarchy that the situation can turn. However, both the performance and the result at Watford were worse than anyone could have imagined and Solskjaer apologized to supporters afterwards.
Continued uncertainty will not help preparations for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Villarreal.
Solskjaer will face the media at 13:00 GMT on Monday ahead of a game United must not lose if they remain in control of their qualification situation.
‘We let ourselves and our fans down’
United’s win rate in the Premier League since Gift Day 2020 is now below 50% with 18 wins in 37 games.
They have lost eight of those and drawn 11 and will be outside the top four during that period, with Manchester City, Chelsea, West Ham and Arsenal all earning more points in their respective periods.
Solskjaer’s side have now conceded 21 goals in the league – the third highest – and have a goal difference of -1, after five defeats in their opening 12 games.
As the final whistle blew, Solskjaer, who has yet to win a trophy since joining the club in December 2018, approached the traveling United fans and raised his hand in a gesture of regret. bugs and waves as he walks away.
Midfielder Bruno Fernandes thinks the responsibility must lie with the players and the entire coaching staff, not just Solskjaer.
“The first half was the worst we’ve played and it’s hard to explain why we played the way we did and allowed them to get into our box,” said Solskjaer. . “We bought it back.
“It hurts me – when you play in the Premier League you have to play against good players and good opponents like this.
“The boys are in a terrible place in their heads right now – we’ve let ourselves and the fans down. It’s hard to stand here and explain it but that’s football and we have to take it. back to it.”
Speculations about Solskjaer’s future will now increase as the Red Devils have been knocked out of the League Cup by West Ham and they have yet to secure a place in the Champions League group stage with two games remaining.
“I never said I felt safe – I would never say I felt safe,” added Solskjaer.
“I’m the manager and I’ll take over and take responsibility – the players are working as hard as they can.
“The fans are really disappointed – I get it, we all understand. They’ve supported us from thick to thin, they’ve built with us again this time.”
‘Change is inevitable’
United travel to Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday before facing Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, November 28.
Matches against Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Young Boys and Norwich take place before mid-December.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says Solskjaer’s future is now “in danger”.
“He’s one of their own, part of the family at that club but they can’t ignore now that he’s part of the problem,” Keown said on BBC’s Final Score.
“Change is inevitable. The manager’s expectations are very dangerous.
“Watford’s last goal was about passion and desire. Where are the defenders? They weren’t strong enough.”
Former Scotland defender Alan Hutton, who is on BBC Radio 5 Live, says United are “terrible” and they are a “team full of stars and they are not performing”.
