Interim Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has hit out at his side's performance during their 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.
The Seagulls broke the deadlock through Moises Caicedo after only 15 minutes at the Amex Stadium, before three goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes condemned Man United to a heavy defeat.
The result means that Man United are now mathematically out of the race for a top-four spot and are guaranteed to end the campaign with their lowest-ever Premier League points tally.
The 56 goals they have conceded is also a new club record in the Premier League era, and Rangnick pulled no punches in his assessment of the performance.
"It was a terrible performance. From the first until the last minute it was not enough. We can only apologise for this performance and a humiliating defeat," he told Sky Sports News.
"[Monday's win over Brentford] was a different game, we just gave too much time and space. We were never in a position where we could stop them playing through our lines. We told the players be as compact as they could but we couldn't stop it.
"I don't think they ignored the game plan but we weren't able to stop them. We gave them too much space and if you do that against a technically good team like Brighton, you will get punished."
© Reuters
Rangnick has just one match left in temporary charge of Man United before moving into a consultancy role, which he will juggle alongside becoming Austria manager.
The German, who will be replaced in the Old Trafford dugout by Erik ten Hag during the summer, will end his reign away to Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.
Brighton, meanwhile, are in contention for a first top-half Premier League finish, and defender Marc Cucurella, who scored their second goal of the game, was full of praise for his side's performance.
"It is unbelievable. We played really well and we are very happy because we work together, we lost six games in a row. This is a present for the fans and the team and the season," the Spaniard told Sky Sports News.
"Coming here was difficult in the summer, a new league, new country and new language. It is now very exciting for me and my family; when we came, my son was 10 days old. He travelled with me when I changed my city. It is very special."
Brighton boss Graham Potter also talked up the "amazing result", adding: "We've had a bit of pain here this season in terms of not winning in front of our supporters. We owe them one and it is a special evening for us. A fantastic performance and an amazing result.
"In an ideal world world you want to get your points at home but at the end of the day the most important thing is you get the points. But it was nice to give the supporters a game, a performance and memory. So we are delighted.
"We played well from the start I thought. We were the better team, they did everything they could and what we asked them to do."
The Seagulls still have two games of their season remaining - against Leeds United next weekend and West Ham United on the final day.
Barney Corkhill
