Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag plays down the boos from the club’s supporters during Saturday’s loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has played down the boos from the club’s supporters that arrived as a consequence of his decision to substitute Rasmus Hojlund against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 20-year-old was handed his full debut for the Red Devils, with the striker in from the start for the first time, having been used off the bench against Arsenal before the international break.
Hojlund thought that he had scored his first goal for the 20-time English champions late in the first period when he converted from inside the box, but the effort was chalked off, as the ball had just gone out of play before Marcus Rashford delivered into his teammate.
The Denmark international was substituted in the 64th minute of the match for Anthony Martial, which was a decision that was not well received by a number of the club’s fans.
Ten Hag has insisted that Hojlund is not ready for a full game, having only just returned from injury, while he also played down the apparent anger towards Martial’s introduction.
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“I think it was positive (the reaction of the supporters), you see that the fans in the first moment in Old Trafford, the reception for him was great, I think he performed very well,” Ten Hag told reporters following the 3-1 defeat to Brighton.
“So I think it’s good that they give him this signal, this message. It will give him belief, Rasmus, but everyone knows he came in with a small issue, we built him over the past three, four weeks, he’s not ready for a whole game. And we have many games to play [at] short notice, so yeah, we have to build him also in fitness.
“I think it was because Rasmus Hojlund came off. But I don’t want to discuss that, I don’t know. But I think Anthony Martial every time, last year, every time when he he had a very positive effect on our games.
“I think even we almost lost no games with Anthony Martial on the pitch. If that’s the fact, I don’t understand, because when he is fit, he definitely will contribute.
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“At this moment, he is not [at] top fitness, but he is improving and I’m sure when he is 100% fit, he will contribute – again, as [he did] last season.
“I think he has to make also his own luck and first be available and be consistently available. Then you will see his form will be better. But as I said, every time last year when he was playing, he affected our game in a positive way. So I hope he stays fit and I am sure he will contribute to our game.”
Man United have now lost three of their five Premier League matches this season, but Ten Hag is confident that his side can bounce back against Bayern Munich in the Champions League next week.
“Absolutely, Bayern Munich I think is one of the favourites to win the Champions League so we have to be good there. But I think I have already explained what we need there – we need character, belief, resilience, determination, absolutely,” said Ten Hag.
Man United will then be bidding to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they head to Burnley next weekend.
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