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Erik ten Hag says Manchester United must respond with character and togetherness after a galling loss to Brighton on an afternoon when he regarded the booing of Rasmus Hojlund\u2019s withdrawal as a positive.<\/p>\n
After a promising first season under the Dutchman, a number of off-field issues at Old Trafford have been compounded by poor performances and results on the pitch.<\/p>\n
Already beaten away to Tottenham and Arsenal, Saturday\u2019s meek 3-1 home loss to Brighton meant the Red Devils have lost three of their first five matches for the first time in the Premier League era.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely that is something that bothers me,\u201d manager Ten Hag said of the results. \u201cBut also I have to see the way we play.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut finally it\u2019s about character then. Now we have to see how strong we are, how the team sticks together and which players are standing up and showing the character and leading the team.<\/p>\n
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\u201cBecause in all the games, all the games but especially the games today, against Arsenal and Forest, we have seen we can play very good and we can create a lot of chances.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, yes, there are also some improvements to make. That is definitely the case and now we have to step up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Danny Welbeck put Brighton ahead against his former club before Marcus Rashford\u2019s effort was deflected onto the woodwork and Hojlund\u2019s first goal for his new club was ruled out by the VAR.<\/p>\n
Pascal Gross and substitute Joao Pedro put the visitors further ahead in the second half at a stunned Old Trafford, where substitute Hannibal Mejbri\u2019s exceptional first United goal did little to lift the mood.<\/p>\n
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There were boos at the final whistle and even louder jeers earlier in the second half when Ten Hag replaced lively full debutant Hojlund with Anthony Martial.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it was positive,\u201d the manager said of the reaction to the substitution. \u201cYou see that the fans from the first moment in Old Trafford, the reception for him was great.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he performed very well, so I think it\u2019s good that they gave this signal, this message. It will give him belief, Rasmus.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut everyone knows he came in with a small issue. We built him over the last three, four weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not ready for a whole game and we have many games to play in short notice, so we have to build him also in fitness.\u201d<\/p>\n
It has been a poor start to the season in all departments, but Ten Hag dismissed the notion that United are in crisis ahead of Wednesday\u2019s tough-looking Champions League group opener at Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but we have to be very disappointed,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd we have to be very annoyed with ourselves because at United the demand is you win games.\u201d<\/p>\n
This loss ended United\u2019s 31-match unbeaten home run in all competitions and saw them lose a Premier League match at Old Trafford for the first time since Ten Hag\u2019s opening game.<\/p>\n
Brighton were the victors that day and celebrated a second-ever Old Trafford win on Saturday, when they made it four top-flight wins in a row against the Red Devils.<\/p>\n
Roberto De Zerbi\u2019s brilliant side shone despite making six changes in the north west against a side constructed at a far greater cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe football is nice because the small team can win in every moment against a great team,\u201d the Brighton boss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think Brighton is becoming not a big, big team but it\u2019s not a surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe quality of the players of Brighton is very high and the organisation of the club. The possibility to manage two players per position is difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know the problems of Man United. I can explain my team.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe are used to working in our style, we are playing with courage because we defended in Old Trafford man-to-man all the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are building our season in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n