Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faced criticism from fans as he substituted Rasmus Højlund during the team’s disappointing 3-1 defeat against Brighton. However, the manager is choosing to view the incident in a positive light, citing Højlund’s strong performance on his full debut.
During the match, when Højlund was replaced by Anthony Martial in the second half, loud boos resonated from the home support. Despite this, ten Hag believes that the fans’ reaction was influenced by Højlund’s impressive display earlier in the game, highlighting their appreciation for the 20-year-old’s efforts.
“I think it was positive,” ten Hag stated. “You see the fans in the first moment in Old Trafford, the reception for [Højlund] was great. I think he performed very well. It’s good they give this signal, this message. It will give Rasmus belief.”
Despite not scoring, Højlund came close to marking his first start with a goal. Unfortunately, his first-half equalizer was disallowed after a VAR review. The €72 million summer signing from Atalanta joined Manchester United with a back injury, leading ten Hag to explain that Højlund was not yet fit enough to play the full 90 minutes against Brighton.
“Everyone knows he came in with a small issue,” ten Hag explained. “We built him over the last three or four weeks, but he is not ready for a whole game, and we have many games to play at short notice. So, we have to build the fitness. If he gets injured because he is not capable of playing 90 minutes, then we are much farther away than where we want to be.”
Ten Hag Clarifies Fan Reaction Target
Addressing the question of whether the boos were directed at Anthony Martial, who struggled to make an impact after coming on as a substitute, ten Hag denied this speculation.
“I think it was because Rasmus Højlund came off, but I don’t want to discuss that, so I don’t know,” asserted ten Hag. “I think Anthony Martial last year, every time he played, he had a very positive effect on our games.”
While the boos from the fans may have dampened the atmosphere at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag is trying to find the silver lining in the incident. The manager chooses to interpret the fans’ negative reaction as a testament to Højlund’s impressive performance on his debut. Ten Hag acknowledges that Højlund’s fitness is a work in progress due to his recent injury, emphasizing the need for careful management to prevent long-term setbacks. Regarding the boos directed at Martial, ten Hag is swift in dismissing them and highlighting the positive impact the Frenchman has had in previous matches. Regardless of the fan reaction, ten Hag remains focused on preparing the team physically and mentally for the challenges ahead.
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