Manchester United crashed to defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League earlier today.
The Red Devils were beaten 2-1 away from home and former defender Gary Neville has now slammed the players and manager Erik ten Hag for the disappointing defeat.
Neville revealed on NBC Sports (h/t Express) that the defeat was unacceptable and the performance was depressing towards the end of the game.
The former Manchester United defender also questioned the manager’s tactics during the first half of the game. The Manchester United manager chose to play without a recognised centre forward in the first 45 minutes of the game and the lack of a focal point affected Manchester United going forward.
Although Erik ten Hag decided to bring Joshua Zirkzee on during the second half, Neville feels that the Dutch manager wasted valuable time in the first half. Furthermore, the Manchester United legend also highlighted the questionable defending from set pieces.
Manchester United will be taking on Liverpool next week and Neville feels that defeat against Brighton has now put immense pressure on the team and the manager. It will be interesting to see if the Red Devils can bounce back strongly against their bitter rivals.
“Really depressing end to the game,” he told NBC Sports. “I thought a draw would’ve been half acceptable but to lose the game, it puts an awful lot of pressure, I think, on Erik ten Hag and on towards the game next week against Liverpool.
“I think the first half of the game, I don’t think any of us were surprised. It’s very difficult to play football without a centre-forward. The lads in the studio will tell you, you need a focal point up front. He corrected that at half-time by bringing Zirkzee on, but you’ve already wasted 45 minutes in the match and that’s a real problem.
“Then in the second half, the first goal as well was poor defensively, that last goal, I’ve just watched it then coming up to the gantry. When you clear from a corner, you’ve got to still defend as you’re defending the second phase of a corner.
“I think particularly if you watch Casemiro, it looks to me, I’ve only watched it once back on the reply, it looks like he leaves his position at that back post and runs back towards central midfield.
“But then it leaves an acre of space in that back zone where there are three Brighton players queuing up.”
Man United need to improve
Manchester United will be hoping to challenge for major trophies this season and they will look to get back into the UEFA Champions League as well. They cannot afford to keep dropping points against inferior opposition. Although Brighton are a good team, Manchester United certainly have the quality and depth in the side to grind out all three points against them.
Manchester United crashed to defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League earlier today.
The Red Devils were beaten 2-1 away from home and former defender Gary Neville has now slammed the players and manager Erik ten Hag for the disappointing defeat.
Neville revealed on NBC Sports (h/t Express) that the defeat was unacceptable and the performance was depressing towards the end of the game.
The former Manchester United defender also questioned the manager’s tactics during the first half of the game. The Manchester United manager chose to play without a recognised centre forward in the first 45 minutes of the game and the lack of a focal point affected Manchester United going forward.
Although Erik ten Hag decided to bring Joshua Zirkzee on during the second half, Neville feels that the Dutch manager wasted valuable time in the first half. Furthermore, the Manchester United legend also highlighted the questionable defending from set pieces.
Manchester United will be taking on Liverpool next week and Neville feels that defeat against Brighton has now put immense pressure on the team and the manager. It will be interesting to see if the Red Devils can bounce back strongly against their bitter rivals.
“Really depressing end to the game,” he told NBC Sports. “I thought a draw would’ve been half acceptable but to lose the game, it puts an awful lot of pressure, I think, on Erik ten Hag and on towards the game next week against Liverpool.
“I think the first half of the game, I don’t think any of us were surprised. It’s very difficult to play football without a centre-forward. The lads in the studio will tell you, you need a focal point up front. He corrected that at half-time by bringing Zirkzee on, but you’ve already wasted 45 minutes in the match and that’s a real problem.
“Then in the second half, the first goal as well was poor defensively, that last goal, I’ve just watched it then coming up to the gantry. When you clear from a corner, you’ve got to still defend as you’re defending the second phase of a corner.
“I think particularly if you watch Casemiro, it looks to me, I’ve only watched it once back on the reply, it looks like he leaves his position at that back post and runs back towards central midfield.
“But then it leaves an acre of space in that back zone where there are three Brighton players queuing up.”
Man United need to improve
Manchester United will be hoping to challenge for major trophies this season and they will look to get back into the UEFA Champions League as well. They cannot afford to keep dropping points against inferior opposition. Although Brighton are a good team, Manchester United certainly have the quality and depth in the side to grind out all three points against them.