Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says his team is still making the same mistakes as last season after losing to Brighton in Erik ten Hag’s first game.
The Red Devils started their Premier League campaign with a 2-1 defeat to the Seagulls at Old Traffordwith United looking extremely dull for much of the 90 minutes.
Pascal Gross hit the mark in the first half and although an own goal by Alexis Mac Allister after the break gave the home team hope, it was not enough and so the Ten Hag era starts with a defeat and all the optimism of preseason disappeared.
‘We went into the game positively; we had a good preparation for the season and it was the worst possible start to be 2-0 behind Old Trafford at halftime,” Maguire said. air sports after the match.
“We got a goal back, but we snorted a bit and it’s a bad start for us. We started pretty well and in the foreground and as a team we were in control. Then we conceded the first goal and that helped us a lot.
“We have to make sure that we don’t get too reticent about that first goal. It was a nightmare to be 2-0 down at halftime.
‘We were talking about the next goal’ [at half-time]. I think you saw good parts of our game in the second half, but overall we didn’t do enough. We had a lot of pressure and a lot of ball, but we have to be a bit more creative and we have to improve that.
“It’s something we have to address or it will keep happening. The first goal felt like a big blow to all our eleven players.’
As expected, centre-back Maguire started alongside new signing Lisandro Martinez, but the £46million man didn’t have the best of debuts with United’s backline struggling with Brighton’s well-organized attack.
In terms of attacks, United looked uncreative and insecure and it is clear that Ten Hag’s project will be long and difficult.
“It’s great to have Lisandro Martinez at the club,” added Maguire.
“We have competition for places on the central defender. We didn’t play much together and in that first period we weren’t on the same wavelength. Partnerships with central defenders are built over time and we will get a lot better and keep a clean sheet.
“Everyone knew the assignment. We had a bad season last season. We have a new manager who is trying to bring his philosophy into the team, but if we don’t do it right, we look way too open.’
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