Manchester United's Crisis Deepens After Shocking 1-3 Defeat to Brighton: Erik ten Hag Breaks Silence
Man Utd suffer a 3-1 defeat against Brighton, their third loss in five league games, marking their worst start in 34 years Erik ten Hag denies crisis, but admits substituting Rasmus Hojlund due to fitness concerns Martial's substitution draws boos Concerns arise for Man Utd's future
Erik ten Hag maintains that Manchester United is not in crisis and believes they can reverse their fortunes by remaining committed to their plan. On Saturday, Brighton convincingly defeated Man Utd 3-1 at Old Trafford, marking their third loss in the first five league matches. This is their worst start to a season in 34 years.
The Old Trafford crowd expressed their disappointment with their players by booing at the end of the match. This lackluster performance followed an international break where Antony and Jadon Sancho were sidelined from the first-team.
Ten Hag believed that Manchester United had a stroke of bad luck when VAR disallowed a first-half equalizer by Rasmus Hojlund due to a previous ball out, but he did admit that he was worried about his team's overall outcomes.
"We need to unite and remain committed to the plan and the regulations in order to reverse the current situation," Ten Hag stated.
Moreover, he expressed his concern about the team's performance and highlighted the importance of evaluating our style of play. The focus lies on demonstrating resilience and teamwork. The players must demonstrate their determination and showcase their character, as recent matches, including Saturday's game and the encounters against Arsenal and Forest, have demonstrated our ability to play effectively and generate scoring opportunities.
"But we also have some improvements to make and we have to step up."
Ten Hag addresses boos for Martial replacing Hojlund
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Rasmus Hojlund responded after his disallowed attempt against Brighton.
In the second half, debutant Hojlund was substituted for Antony Martial, who had scored two goals in his 15 previous games, as Manchester United trailed 2-0 and fought to make a comeback.
The Old Trafford crowd expressed their displeasure by booing the decision, but later showed their appreciation for Hojlund's impressive home debut after his £72m transfer from Atalanta in Serie A.
Ten Hag clarified that he was taking a cautious approach with Hojlund, considering the stress fracture in his back since his arrival at the club, but emphasized that there were no hard feelings towards Martial.
"I believe it was a positive experience," he stated. "The initial reception from the fans at Old Trafford was fantastic, indicating their support. Hojlund showcased an impressive performance, and it was encouraging that they sent this signal, as it will boost Rasmus's confidence. It's important to note that he was dealing with a minor issue and was unable to complete the entire game.
"If Hojlund were to sustain an injury due to being unfit for the full 90 minutes, it would considerably hinder our progress towards our desired destination."
Neville: Big concern is this wasn't a surprise
According to Gary Neville, we saw the booing in response to Rasmus being substituted. However, Neville believes that just like Martial had a positive impact on our games last year, he too will contribute once he is fully fit. Although he is not currently in his best form, he is making progress. Neville predicts that when Martial reaches 100 percent fitness, he will have a similar impact as he did in the previous season."I've just returned from Old Trafford, and while it's always important to approach the match with optimism, what we witnessed was not surprising and quite concerning. It wasn't a lack of effort or disinterest from the players. Instead, it was a clear case of our team being thoroughly outplayed by a well-drilled and knowledgeable opponent. It's as simple as that.
And yes, the responsibility falls on the Glazers. That's how ownership works. When you own a business, all successes and failures ultimately rest on your shoulders. They inherited a club that excelled in various aspects, but over the past 10 years, they haven't been able to replicate that success on and off the field. They have fostered a culture of greed, lack of discipline, indecisiveness, and uncertainty that permeates throughout the club. It would be in the best interest for them to sell the club swiftly and efficiently, allowing for a proper correction of the off-field issues and a reset of the club's tone and culture. Football can be a volatile sport, with unpredictable results on the pitch, but if the off-field matters, including ownership's direction and leadership, are in order, it significantly increases our chances of success."
What's next?
Manchester United's next game is a trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday as they begin their Champions League campaign - kick-off 8pm.Erik ten Hag's team will resume Premier League action on Saturday, facing Burnley with a kick-off at 8pm.
Next, Brighton is set to play AEK Athens at home on Thursday, marking the start of their Europa League campaign. The match will commence at 8pm.
The Seagulls then return to Premier League action at home to Bournemouth on September 24 - kick-off 2pm.
