West Ham beats Manchester United 1-0 in London Stadium as De Gea’s mistake gives West Ham a crucial win that all but ensures their survival. This is Manchester United’s second consecutive defeat in four days, which raises concerns over their ability to compete for the top four positions in the league.
Despite having a game in hand, the team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League have become a lot more nerve-wracking than expected, with Liverpool only one point behind in the race for the top four. West Ham has reached 37 points, which should guarantee them safety from the drop. The win is timely as they approach their Europa Conference League semifinal against AZ Alkmaar.
Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, has a decision to make about De Gea’s future in the team, given his recent performance. Ten Hag’s ultimate goal is to create a team capable of winning the biggest trophies both at home and abroad. However, doubts about De Gea’s ability to help build out from the back, and his recent costly mistake, make it difficult to argue for his place in the team. Bringing back Dean Henderson after his loan spell at Nottingham Forest could be a budget-friendly alternative.
Declan Rice proved to be West Ham’s driving force in the match against United, displaying his talent as a midfielder, with his positioning, passing, and work rate all spot-on. Rice’s performance was further proof that he would fit into any top-six team.
Having played over 200 matches for West Ham, the time has come for Rice to move to a bigger stage, playing in the Champions League for a club like Arsenal or Chelsea. Manchester City and Manchester United could also make enquiries about Rice’s availability, even though his valuation is currently set at £100 million.
The best performers of the match were Declan Rice, Lukasz Fabianski, and Nayef Aguerd, while David De Gea and Wout Weghorst were the worst performers for Manchester United. Despite the good news that Manchester United could still qualify for the Champions League, their recent form suggests they have run out of steam at the worst possible moment.
