However, United didn’t take the setback lying down and quickly responded. Hannibal Mejbri, in a moment of brilliance, curled in his maiden goal for the club from 25 yards out, beating Jason Steele. Sadly, his spectacular effort didn’t spark a comeback.
All things considered, it was a display of superiority from Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton over Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United, and this prompted the Italian manager to discuss the issues afflicting the United side.
De Zerbi offered insights on United, expressing his uncertainty about their problems. He stated, “I don’t know the problem of Manchester United; I can explain my team.”
Further in his post-game remarks, De Zerbi praised his own team’s courage and resilience. He acknowledged that the early stages were challenging due to United’s unexpected style of play, but after that, Brighton asserted control and played an excellent game. De Zerbi believed that retaining possession was a pivotal turning point in the match.
Indeed, his assessment seemed accurate, as United initiated the game with a dynamic approach, which took Brighton by surprise. However, once Brighton regained command, they never relinquished it.
So, what ails Manchester United? Despite their promising start, they couldn’t sustain the momentum, and issues emerged. The midfield configuration appears to require attention, with Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen falling short of expectations. However, the problem doesn’t seem to be solely about quality but rather effort, with instances like Casemiro being caught out and players not exhibiting enough determination to recover.
Despite these challenges, there’s confidence that Ten Hag can address these shortcomings and steer his team back on the right track.