Erik ten Hag has run out of time at Manchester United and is unlikely to be given another year at the helm, former United players said in the wake of Monday's 4-0 Premier League loss at Crystal Palace.
United's record 13th league defeat of the campaign left them eighth and facing the prospect of having no European football next season. They have conceded 81 goals in all competitions, their worst showing since the 1976-77 season.
"Tonight felt like the final nail in the coffin," ex-United midfielder Paul Scholes told Premier League Productions.
"There was a lack of know-how from the team, a lack of effort which is the big disappointing thing.
"I've felt he might get another year and work for a club that has calmed down a little bit by the new owners but it just doesn't feel like it now.
"It's quite plain to see it feels like borrowed time."
Ten Hag insisted afterwards he was "absolutely" still the right man for the job, and blamed a mounting injury list but Michael Owen, who played for United from 2009-12, said the club's board should cut their losses and sack Ten Hag before the end of the season, with an FA Cup final against Manchester City still to play for.
"He cannot, simply cannot, manage the team next season," Owen said.
"I just wonder, there's just so much at stake, even if it's only for four games, I wonder whether the board might just have to try to do something here and now and be quite radical about it."
United have three league games left, hosting leaders Arsenal and sixth-placed Newcastle United in their next two matches before winding up the campaign at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Ex-United defender Ashley Young said the club might fail to win any of their remaining games.
"It's shambolic, everything about United's defending was crazy," he told Sky Sports.
"If United put on displays like they have shown tonight, they will miss out."
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled United "one of the most poorly-coached teams in the Premier League" after the thrashing.
United boss Ten Hag fielded a makeshift back four because of an injury crisis, with Bruno Fernandes also unavailable, but Carragher had little sympathy for the Dutchman.
He told Sky Sports: "This is one of the most poorly-coached teams in the Premier League. It's not an opinion, that’s a fact.
"I get that (the backline was unavailable), I understand, your performance level will drop and your results will not be as good when you miss your best players, that’s obvious.
"But Erik ten Hag needs performances. You’ve got to make us believe there’s something there or working to something. If he was to lose his job, I don’t think he could have any complaints.
"I struggled to see how United would win, but I thought Palace might win 1-0 or 2-1 in a tight game. No Manchester United team should be getting beaten 4-0 by Crystal Palace.
"Manchester United’s under-23s team, I’d still not expect them to lose 4-0. I’ve never been a coach or manager, but I’ve been a player and I’ve been coached by top coaches and some of the things I see are just wrong."
"Casemiro should know himself as an experienced player that he should only have another three games left at the top level"
Casemiro played alongside Jonny Evans in the centre of defence, but the pair endured a torrid evening to such an extent that Carragher believes the Brazilian’s days at the top level are numbered.
Despite having a deal at Old Trafford that runs until June 2026, Carragher advised Casemiro (32), a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, to leave European football this summer.
Carragher said: "I think Casemiro should know himself as an experienced player that he should only have another three games left at the top level – the next two league games and the FA Cup final.
"He should be thinking, 'I need to go to MLS or Saudi (Arabia)’. I’m deadly serious. He’s been an absolute great and I am nowhere near what that man has achieved, but I always remember something when I retired myself – leave football before football leaves you.
"The football has left him, at this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level of football and move.
"The level of that player, he should not be putting himself through this, he is too good of a player to be putting in a performance like that and being laughed at by Crystal Palace.
"He’s not playing Man City or Real Madrid, a man of that level should not be going through what he is going through now and he needs to call it a day."
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