Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen criticized Noussair Mazraoui for giving away a penalty in the Red Devils’ humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
Ruben Amorim’s side were humiliated by the Cherries on their own turf just seven days after their dramatic last-minute comeback in the Manchester derby.
Andoni Iraola’s team dominated the match at Old Trafford and took the lead thanks to young defender Dean Huijsen, who headed in unmarked after a free kick.
Mazraoui made an error of judgment to give Bournemouth the chance to double their lead when he missed a challenge on Justin Kluivert in the penalty area.
Kluivert scored the penalty before Antoine Semenyo added a third minutes later to secure a comfortable victory for the visitors.
After the damaging defeat, Owen did not mince words about United, which he considers “not a good team.”
Noussair Mazraoui struggled in Manchester United’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth
The full-back conceded a second-half penalty which Justin Kluivert scored to give the Cherries a two-goal lead.
Michael Owen branded Mazraoui’s challenge “stupid” and branded United “not a good team”.
The former United and Liverpool striker was then asked to comment on Mazraoui’s tackle that earned the Cherries a penalty, and once again he didn’t hold back.
‘A little rash? More like a bit stupid,” Owen said on Premier League Productions. ‘What the hell are you doing? Two players are waiting for him, from then on he’s not going to score and he goes for it.
‘Just stay standing and carry him away. It’s just a bad, bad decision. The sad thing about Manchester United these days is that they are losing 1-0 and you never think they will come back.
“They are not a good team. Rubén Amorim needs to pay attention to that game and make sure that these players who are not performing do not put the shirt back on. He has to be that brutal and ruthless.”
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 kept United 13th in the Premier League table, meaning they will spend Christmas in the bottom half for the first time since 1989.
Many fans expressed their displeasure towards the players after the final whistle as boos from those remaining in their seats echoed throughout the stadium.
And the Portuguese coach has stated that he felt the nervous energy inside 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.
Rubén Amorim’s reign at United has begun to falter with four defeats in their last six games
“Right now, everything is very difficult,” Amorim said. “For a club like Manchester United to lose 3-0 at home is very hard for everyone.
‘The fans are really disappointed and tired. You feel in the stadium on the first play. I understand it, but we have to face it. I felt it from the first minute, there is a lot of anxiety.
“We want to score but we are too nervous. After that third goal, everyone in the stadium is suffering: the fans, the players, everyone.
“Everyone at the club is tired of these moments. We have to face it and focus on the next game.”
