Graeme Souness admits he was wrong about Man Utd as ‘unconvincing’ £110m trio singled out

Manchester United’s performances have copped serious criticism as Erik ten Hag struggles to get a tune out of his squad, despite adding well over £100m worth of talent

Graeme Souness admits he “was wrong” to think that Manchester United were poised to improve as they register their worst ever start to a Premier League season.

With the second international break of the campaign upon us the Red Devils sit in the bottom half having picked up eight points from seven games, landing just two wins as the pressure ramps up on Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman presided over their worst ever Premier League season last term, which saw them end up in eighth. He was supported in the transfer market and has a new leadership structure above him as well as new assistants in the dugout.

Souness was adamant that the Manchester outfit were poised for recruitment, especially after seeing them play at Crystal Palace, where he felt they were good value for a win despite being held to a goalless draw. Now though, following poor displays in Europe and in England, he concedes he was likely wrong.

He told the Daily Mail: “My assessment of Manchester United here last month was that I thought they’d be better this season, but the past five weeks suggest I may have been wrong. I saw them at Crystal Palace where they were good and should have won.

“But against Tottenham they were poor, even before Bruno Fernandes was sent off. Spurs looked fabulous but how much of that ‘fabulous’ was United being average?”

In the summer Ten Hag continued to pursue players he worked with at Ajax. In his first summer Antony came in, he was followed 12 months later by Andre Onana and now Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have both followed for a combined £60million. Neither have had the desired impact, nor has Manuel Ugarte, who was signed from PSG for £50m

“The club spent big again last summer but neither Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt nor Noussair Mazraoui convince me. Erik can’t say United haven’t supported him. By buying so many Dutch internationals and players he has managed previously, he has told the club: ‘I know these players. They will do a good job.’

“If someone had brought them to his attention and he didn’t fancy them, he could have said: ‘No, I’ve worked with them before and they’re not for me’. He has driven those transfers. His future now depends on making them work out.”

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