Erik Ten Hag admits Man Utd job is tough

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag admitted that he had an enormous task on his hands as his Manchester United reign began with a disappointing 2-1 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion.

United were booed off after Pascal Gross scored two first-half goals to hand Brighton their first win at Old Trafford.

“It is a hell of a job,” Ten Hag said when asked about how difficult it would be to revive the fortunes of his side, whose consolation came from an Alexis Mac Allister own goal.

“We have to work really hard, analyse and then move forward. It’s a disappointment and we have to deal with it. I knew it would be difficult and it’s a process. It takes time, but we don’t have time. We have to win games and we should have done it better today.”

Ten Hag, who brought Cristiano Ronaldo off the bench in the second half, admitted that his players were lacking confidence because of their performances last season when they finished sixth in the Premier League.

“I think it was a good start and then we dropped down a level in belief and we make mistakes,” he said. “I can understand that after last year but that is not necessary because they are good players. Self-belief is something from yourself, you bring it on the pitch.”

Harry Maguire, the United captain, was deeply unhappy with his team’s display. “The result is disappointing, it’s the worst possible start,” he said. The former United captain Roy Keane also did not hold back in his criticism. “United look very fragile,” he said on Sky Sports. “It’s the same problems. There are questions about the personality of the team and the big problem is, out of possession, they look so open.”

Ten Hag explained that his decision to start Christian Eriksen as a false nine was because Anthony Martial had a hamstring injury and Ronaldo was lacking match fitness.

“If I had a striker available, I would have played him,” Ten Hag said. “Cristiano has trained for ten days with the team and that is too short for 90 minutes. At Ajax a long time ago he [Eriksen] played as a striker.”

The anger and dissatisfaction among United fans was reflected in the fact that fights broke out between their own fans in the stands at Old Trafford, though the skirmishes appeared to be quickly contained.

Marko Arnautovic has emerged as a potential signing to add physicality to Ten Hag’s squad. It is understood that United have made a £6.8 million bid for the 33-year-old Bologna striker, who used to play for West Ham United.

Danny Welbeck, the former United striker, impressed for Brighton, despite having a stomach bug. “He would have strapped the toilet on to his backside to play,” Graham Potter, the Brighton head coach, said. “It would have slowed him down, though. He was amazing.”