Chris Hughton has done what many managers had failed to do over the years. Just like last season, Manchester United went to the Falmer Stadium and returned empty-handed once again.
United’s woeful performance resulted in a humiliating defeat against The Seagulls. We look at the three reasons why Jose Mourinho’s side lost the clash.
#3 FRAGILE RIGHT-SIDE OF MANCHESTER UNITED
Jose Mourinho announced that Darmian is going to stay at United this season and then he dropped him from the matchday squad altogether. Ashley Young had just returned from the post-World Cup break and Mourinho straightaway deployed him as the right-back.
The 33-year old winger-turned-fullback was awful. He was repeatedly exposed by Brighton’s midfielders. The ideal decision would have been to start with Darmian at the right-back and bring Ashley young off the bench if required. The Italian is a much more composed defender than Young.
To add to Young’s misery, Juan Mata had a terrible day at the office. The Spaniard is not a right-winger but Mourinho is too eager to play him out wide.
Mata lacks physicality and pace which is required at that position. He fails to track back, leaving Young with too much to do when United do lose the ball. With Marcus Rashford in the squad, why not start him as a right-winger? Mourinho cannot start with this pair on the same side in the next match.
#2 CENTRE-BACKS BUNGLE
Ed Woodward, did you see the first-half? Mourinho insisted on signing a centre-back all summer, but the club didn’t sign anyone. Eric Bailly, who is considered the best centre-back in that Manchester United squad, had a dreadful game. He was too slow to react during set-pieces and his cavalier attitude led to Brighton’s third goal from the penalty spot.
Lindelof struggled through his first season in England but started this campaign with a strong performance against Leicester City. He isn’t the most physical of defenders but to allow a 34-year old Glenn Murray harry you does raise a few doubts.
Murray is an experienced centre-forward and bullied Lindelof to get in front of him to score the first goal of the match which established the tone for the rest of the game.
#1 BRIGHTON’S PRESSING
Brighton hit the ground running from the very first second of the match. They were pressing high up the pitch forced Man United into making mistakes, especially at the back.
Even after scoring the early goals, they didn’t take the foot off the gas as the United opener came out of nothing really.
Chris Hughton’s side defended bravely and didn’t want to sit back, which helped them against a disjointed United attack.