With Louis van Gaal splashing hundreds of millions on his Man Utd side, it was bizarrely youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah who was the one man standing between them and a battering.
At 68 minutes into their clash with Tottenham, there was little between the two sides when the Dutch teenager went down injured.
The former United youth team player was subbed off for Darmian and then, it’s fair to say, things went south pretty quickly.
68 min: Fosu Mensah comes off
70 min: 1-0 Spurs
73 min: 2-0 Spurs
75 min: 3-0 Spurs pic.twitter.com/RQAXZjgAZ9— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) April 10, 2016
0-0 to 3-0 in five minutes ??? #COYS pic.twitter.com/hCTvgt229q
— Rachael Holding (@RachaelHolding) April 10, 2016
Tottenham players lining up to score against Man Utd pic.twitter.com/pLJ0Oy76RW
— UNDERRATED NINJA! (@iamjoseh_) April 10, 2016
Could it be possible that one of the cheapest players in one of the Premier League’s most expensive teams was their defensive talisman?
Fosu-Mensah didn’t die for this
— Paul (@UtdRantcast) April 10, 2016
As soon as Fosu-Mensah came off they crumbled
— hassan (@Hassan241) April 10, 2016
We’ve genuinely fallen apart down the left since Fosu-Mensah went off. All of their goals from that side.
— United Peoples TV (@UnitedPeoplesTV) April 10, 2016
Six minutes, 3 goals
And all after Fosu Mensah goes off
Coincidence?
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) April 10, 2016
70% of Earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by Fosu Mensah and Morgan Schneiderlin.
— SemperFiUnited (@SemperFiUnited) April 10, 2016
An actual 18-year-old?
It all went downhill when Timothy Fosu-Mensah went off. How a Manchester United defence is tied together by an 18-year-old.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) April 10, 2016
Fosu-Mensah goes off in the 68th minute at 0-0. United 3-0 down by the 76th minute. Defence held together by an 18 year old.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 10, 2016
It was not a good day to be in Darmian’s boots.
68th minute: Fosu-Mensah comes off for Darmian, 0-0.
76th minute: 3-0 Spurs.
Darmian right now: pic.twitter.com/Q3sNCkIJxm
— Coral (@Coral) April 10, 2016
3-0 goals conceded since Fosu-Mensah taken off, Darmian allowing the cross in the third. Diabolical.
— Jordan (@FourFourJordan) April 10, 2016
Fosu-Mensah on the pitch 0-0, Darmian on the pitch 3-0.
— Transfer News (@TrustyTransfers) April 10, 2016
The 18-year-old had been keeping the title-challenging north London side at bay for much of the game up until that point.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s half by numbers vs. Spurs:
100% tackles
100% aerial duels
2 interceptions
2 clearancesRock. pic.twitter.com/qfdTciwTKL
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 10, 2016
Many believe he is destined for bigger things.
Fire LVG and have Fosu Mensah take over until the end of the season.
— Dan (@sasorisasori) April 10, 2016
The 3-0 hammering went some way to diminishing what residual belief the Old Trafford faithful had left in their manager.
At one point LvG had Mata in Lingard’s position,Lingard in Mata’s position,Martial in Young’s position and Young in Martial’s position. SMH
— Retro United (@RetroUnited) April 10, 2016
Sick to death of LvG’s ridiculous, absurd ‘tactics’ that confirm he’s well out of his depth. Should’ve been sacked in December. Gutless.
— Liam (@OffsideLiam) April 10, 2016
I think its way after time that LVG should be gone. I have stopped asking because I was sounding like a broke record . He cant manage United
— Tommy Smyth (@TommySmythESPN) April 10, 2016