Erik ten Hag urged Manchester United to show some “character” after they plunged deeper into crisis as Brighton & Hove Albion swept to a shock 3-1 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ten Hag’s side were rocked by a first-half goal from former United forward Danny Welbeck before Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro put Brighton further ahead after the interval.
Hannibal Mejbri’s first goal for the club was no consolation for United, who were booed off at the final whistle.
Photo: AFP
It was United’s second successive defeat after their 3-1 loss at Arsenal before the international break.
With three defeats in five league games already this season — the first time they have suffered that fate in the English Premier League era — United are languishing in 12th place and have the look of a club in turmoil on and off the pitch.
“Definitely that is something that bothers me. Finally it’s about character. Now we have to see how strong we are, how the team sticks together and which players are standing up and showing the character and leading the team,” Ten Hag said.
“Because in all the games, all the games, but especially the games today, against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, we have seen we can play very good and we can create a lot of chances,” he said. “But, yes, there are also some improvements to make. That is definitely the case, and now we have to step up.”
Ten Hag appeared to have stabilized United last season when he ended the club’s six-year trophy drought by winning the EFL Cup and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in his first campaign.
Yet hopes of a title challenge are already fading after a dismal start to the new season, with a daunting Champions League opener at Bayern Munich on Wednesday threatening to add to United’s woes.
“We have to be very disappointed, and we have to be very annoyed with ourselves, because at United the demand is you win games,” Ten Hag said.
In response to a rash of disciplinary issues involving his players, Ten Hag said this week that he arrived at Old Trafford following his move from AFC Ajax to find “no good culture” among the squad.
On Friday, Ten Hag said he did not know whether exiled forward Jadon Sancho would play for United again.
Sancho has been banished to train away from United’s first team after the England international angered Ten Hag when he said he was a “scapegoat” after he was dropped for the Arsenal loss.
Meanwhile, United forward Antony is on a leave of absence to fight allegations of domestic violence made against him by three women, which he strongly denies.
Antony’s problems came weeks after Mason Greenwood was forced to leave United on loan to Spanish side Getafe over domestic abuse allegations that were later dropped.
Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund both missed early chances to put United ahead and Brighton took the lead in the 20th minute.
Adam Lallana let Simon Adingra’s low cross run through his legs to the unmarked Welbeck, who side-footed home to leave Old Trafford in shell-shocked silence.
Gross has made a habit of tormenting United in the past, and the German made it seven goals in 11 games against them when he collected Tariq Lamptey’s 53rd minute pass, danced past Lisandro Martinez and fired a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
Ten Hag was loudly jeered when he opted to replace Hojlund with Anthony Martial.
Oddly, Ten Hag said: “I think it was positive. You see that the fans from the first moment in Old Trafford, the reception for him was great.”
In the 71st minute, Pedro produced a superb finish from Lamptey’s pass, prompting United fans to trudge to the exits.
Hannibal came off the bench to curl home two minutes later, but it was too late to stop the crisis from engulfing United.
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