Red Devils Suffer 2-1 Loss as Defensive Errors Prove Costly at AMEX Stadium
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag expressed frustration over his team’s defensive performance after a 2-1 loss to Brighton at the AMEX Stadium, marking a disappointing start to the new season. The Red Devils were dealt a late blow in injury time when Brighton’s Joao Pedro scored the winning goal, leaving Ten Hag questioning whether his players are fully absorbing his instructions.
Brighton, who have begun the season with a winning streak, took the lead in injury time when Pedro, left unmarked at the far post, headed in Simon Adingra’s cross to secure the victory. Pedro had been a constant threat throughout the match, and his goal highlighted Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities.
After the match, Ten Hag did not mince words, pointing to specific defensive issues that led to the goal. He singled out four players, including new signing Noussair Mazraoui, for their roles in the defensive breakdown. “We didn’t stop the cross,” Ten Hag said. “There were three players. [Adingra is a] right-footed player, send him down the line, send him wide instead of letting him come in and let the cross. We have, of course, to talk about this.”
The goal was the result of Antony’s weak attempt at a tackle, which allowed Adingra the space to deliver the cross. Diogo Dalot, Kobbie Mainoo, and Mazraoui all failed to close down Pedro before he scored, leaving him unmarked at a crucial moment.
Mazraoui, who joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich for a fee of €15 million with an additional €5 million in potential add-ons, was brought in to strengthen the defense following Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s departure to West Ham. Mazraoui, a former Ajax player under Ten Hag, was expected to fit seamlessly into the squad. However, his performance, along with the team’s overall defensive display, raised concerns.
Ten Hag also faced questions about his decision to omit Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt from the starting lineup. He opted for an unchanged XI from the side that beat Fulham last weekend, but the decision backfired against Brighton. Mason Mount, who started the game, was substituted at halftime due to a fitness concern, with Ten Hag explaining, “It was forced. He mentioned an issue, and I don’t want to take the risk with him.”
The loss to Brighton leaves Manchester United with much to address as they aim to improve their form in the coming matches. Ten Hag’s comments suggest that he expects a significant improvement from his players, particularly in their defensive responsibilities, as the season progresses.
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