Erik ten Hag has failed to make an immediate impression as Manchester United manager, with Brighton beating the Red Devils 2-1 in the Dutchman’s first game.
There was optimism at Old Trafford as Ten Hag brought in new signings Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen against the Seagulls from the start, but things quickly turned sour and the team were booed at halftime.
Graham Potter’s Brighton were impressive in the first stanza and made their good work pay off as Pascal Gross scored twice in the 30 and 39 minutes to stun Ten Hag and his new side.
Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench after little action in preseason and he was soon introduced in the second half, which seemed to stimulate the home side.
It was an unfortunate own goal by Alexis MacAllister in the 68th minute that gave Manchester United hope, but even with more than 20 minutes left to play, they didn’t create much or really come close to tying the score.
Donny van de Beek, Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho were all misled by the new United boss but it was to no avail as he started his life at Old Trafford with a defeat.
While Brighton beat Manchester United 4-0 at the Amex in May, this is their first time beating the Red Devils at Old Trafford, making it a historic win for Potter and his men.
Things looked tacky from the start for Manchester Unitedwith Leandro Trossard almost scoring in the first minute on a Diogo Dalot error, while Fred gave the ball dangerously early in his own third.
Bruno Fernandes, however, should have given the home side the lead in just seven minutes by making an attempt over the crossbar when he fell on him unmarked near the penalty spot.
The Red Devils regretted that miss on the half hour and just nine minutes later when Pascal Gross scored twice.
The first was a well-executed move, as Danny Welbeck played in the inner left channel in Trossard, who squared the back post for an unmarked Gross.
Next up for the German was jumping on the rebound from a rescued Solly March shot after Brighton worked the ball all the way from their own corner flag into United’s penalty area.
They were two great goals from the Seagulls and saw the Red Devils duck into the tunnel at half time to loud cheers at Old Trafford.
It was only a matter of time before Cristiano Ronaldo was called up and that was the 53rd minute when he replaced Fred, with United looking much more of an attacking threat after his introduction.
They were lucky not to be awarded a penalty shortly after the 37-year-old came in, when Lisandro Martinez shoved Welbeck in the back and knocked the attacker to the ground, but neither the referee nor the VAR did anything about it.
United nearly made a capitalization when Ronaldo broke through on the right and crossed over in front of Marcus Rashford, who was one-on-one with Robert Sanchez, but the Brighton keeper was quick to smother his attack.
Sanchez then made a smart save on a deflected shot by Christian Eriksen, but after impressing, it cost his side a goal.
The Spaniard missed his punch from a corner and when the ball bounced off Diogo Dalot’s shoulder towards goal, the keeper dove and palmed it into Alexis MacAllister. The Argentinian would have eliminated it, but Sanchez’s intervention made it an own goal for the midfielder.
They had time to cooperate, but United were unable to effectively push for an equaliser, as Brighton knocked them out impressively.
Martinez got a try that was well blocked by Lewis Dunk, who was about as close as the Red Devils to take a point, but it wasn’t to be.
Full-time there were more cheers from the home fans as Ten Hag applauded the crowd as he made his way through the Old Trafford tunnel. He will be even more aware than before of the magnitude of the task ahead.
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