Disappointed, we should be clinical towards the end – Erik Ten Hag after loss against Brighton

It’s a new season but the problems for Manchester United remain the same. The Red Devils suffered a 2-1 loss against Brighton at the Falmer Stadium on Saturday. Danny Welbeck scored for the hosts in the 32nd minute after United failed to clear the ball from the box.

However, the visitors equalized with Amad Diallo scoring at the one-hour mark with the help of a deflection. Minutes later, Alejandro Garnacho should have found himself on the scoring sheet but Joshua Zirkzee got the last touch from the off-side position.

Brighton punished United in the stoppage time with Joao Pedro scoring in the fifth minute out of the extended seven minutes.

“We have to talk about how we act in a situation like that,” Ten Hag said. “There were more than one mistake on that occasion, and it has a big impact on the score.

“[I was] very disappointed. In the Community Shield we conceded just before full time. We should be more clinical in those situations, read the game, take the point, [and] if you can’t win. I thought we were close to win the game, definitely don’t lose the game.

“I’ve seen some good parts, and there were parts in the game; we should have had more control in the game, but there were good parts in the game. I’ve seen a lot of positives, but we have to be more clinical and aggressive in both boxes.”

The Dutchman didn’t put the blame for two conceded goals on individuals but feels the team as a whole should do better.

“We’re always looking for individuals to blame, but in both goals are very soft goals and as a team we should’ve done better, that’s for sure,” he said.

Speaking on Garnacho’s goal which was disallowed after Zirkzee was off-side, “We can bring this goal back, and explain it in detail and what should happen,” Ten Hag said. “Most important is we had an overload, we played very good, then it’s about getting the final pass, getting players in the right positions, getting the right finish and doing everything we did well. It’s [just] misfortune.”

Manchester United will next take on Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.