‘Worst possible start’ – Captain Harry Maguire admits it’s ‘not good enough’ after nightmare defeat to Brighton

MANCHESTER UNITED captain Harry Maguire has ruined the team’s start after a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on opening day.

A brace from Pascal Gross ensured the Erik ten Hag era at Manchester United bad start.

Harry Maguire was critical of the team's poor performance in the first half

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Harry Maguire was critical of the team’s poor performance in the first halfCredit: Getty

Maguirewhich was run sloppily in the first half by Danny Welbeck explained the poor start.

He told Sky Sports: “We went into the game positively, we had good preparation and it was the worst possible start to be 2-0 down at half-time at Old Trafford.

“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.

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“Then we conceded the first goal and that helped us out. We have to make sure that we don’t pull back so strongly because of that first goal. It was a nightmare to be 2-0 down at halftime .”

“We talked about getting 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.”

Maguire teamed up with new boy Lisandro Martinez in central defence, with both suffering a scorching first half thanks to Welbeck’s efforts.

Martinez was lucky not to concede a penalty in the second half either, as a result of which Welbeck fell to the floor with the 2-0.

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Both improved in the second half with more urgency from United, but by then the damage had been done and Ten Hag’s side failed to recover despite the introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speaking of his new defensive partner, Maguire added: “It’s great to have Lisandro Martinez at the club. We have competition for places on the centre-back.

“We didn’t play much together and we weren’t on the same wavelength in that first period. Partnerships with central defenders build over time and we’ll 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.”

Brighton’s win today was the first ever Premier League-era win at Old Trafford.

Roy Keane described United as ‘fragile’ after the first half when fans expressed their feelings by boo the team off the fieldwhile Paul Scholes named the performances from Fred and Scott McTominay as “criminal”.

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While there have been signs of what Ten Hag plans to rebuild at Old Trafford, it has been made abundantly clear that this will not be a quick fix.

Instead, it will certainly be a deep clean of the club, provided the Dutchman gets to bring in the players he needs to make it happen and overhaul a toxic club culture.