Ally McCoist has launched a scathing critique of Manchester United after their troubled start to the season. Michael Carrick's team has earned only five points from their opening five Premier League matches, sitting a disappointing 12th in the table.
In their most recent outing, the Reds faced Fulham, ending in a 1-1 draw. This follows a shocking early exit from the League Cup, where they squandered a 2-0 lead against Brighton, ultimately losing 2-3.
McCoist stated:
When I watch Manchester United, it feels like if they go behind, there’s a real lack of belief or character to come back. If Fernandes has a poor game, there's virtually no one else who can take charge.
To be leading 2-0 against Brighton and end up losing is just incredible. It seems like United are plagued by one issue after another. I expected them to start the season much stronger.
The pundit was keen to stress that a busy fixture list shouldn't serve as an excuse for their lacklustre performances:
I thought that at some point the European competitions would start to impact them. But they haven't even begun yet, and United are already facing issues. You can't just blame everything on the European games.
I am genuinely worried about how poorly Carrick’s team has begun the season. I expected the European matches to affect them later on; however, at this point, they're not playing well enough for that to even be a factor.
Moreover, McCoist feels that Manchester United have lost some of their allure in the transfer market:
United no longer possess the same level of attraction for players that they used to, and I stand by that. Do players want to join? Of course. But if you’re a top-tier player, right now you’re looking at Manchester City, Arsenal, or Liverpool.
Following the international break, Carrick's side will face Tottenham.
