Erik ten Hag wants Manchester United to show ‘character’ after latest defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion

LONDON – Erik ten Hag urged Manchester United to show some “character” after they plunged deeper into crisis as Brighton & Hove Albion swept to a shock 3-1 English Premier League win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Ten Hag’s side were rocked by a first-half goal from former United forward Danny Welbeck, before Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro put Brighton further ahead after the interval. Hannibal Mejbri’s first goal for the club was no consolation for United, who were booed off at the final whistle.

It was United’s second straight defeat after their 3-1 loss at Arsenal before the international break.

With three defeats in five league games already this season – the first time they have suffered that fate in the Premier League era – United are languishing in 13th place and have the look of a club in turmoil on and off the pitch.

“Definitely that is something that bothers me. Finally, it’s about character. Now we have to see how strong we are, how the team sticks together and which players are standing up and showing the character and leading the team,” ten Hag said.

“Because in all the games, all the games but especially the games today, against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, we have seen we can play very good and we can create a lot of chances. But, yes, there are also some improvements to make... Now we have to step up.”

Midfielder Christian Eriksen, meanwhile, told the BBC: “It is a heavy one. We have to look at ourselves.”

He added: “In the first half, we had a lot of moments, had good control. They had a lot of possession but not many chances. They then score with their first chance and the system they play they keep the ball a lot and we had to chase it down. But we still had chances to get back into the game.”

Ten Hag appeared to have stabilised United last season when he ended the club’s five-year trophy drought by winning the League Cup and qualifying for the Champions League in his first campaign.

But hopes of a title challenge are already fading after a dismal start to the new season, with a daunting Champions League opener at Bayern Munich on Wednesday threatening to add to United’s woes.

“We have to be very disappointed,” Ten Hag said. “And we have to be very annoyed with ourselves because at United the demand is you win games.”

Former Red Devils captain Gary Neville put the blame on United’s owners, the Glazer family.

He told Sky Sports: “The most concerning thing is what we ended up watching wasn’t a surprise. This wasn’t a lack of effort or a group of players not interested. This was a team well-beaten by opponents that were well drilled and knew what they were doing.

“Oh and yes the Glazers are responsible. It’s how it works. You own a business and everything good and bad sits with you!

“They inherited the best in all areas. They’ve overseen 10 years of mediocrity off the pitch and on the pitch. They set the culture of greed, ill-discipline, indecision and uncertainty that runs right through the club.”

In response to a rash of disciplinary issues involving his players, ten Hag claimed this week that he arrived at Old Trafford following his move from Ajax Amsterdam to find “no good culture” among the squad.

On Friday, the Dutch manager said he did not know whether exiled attacker Jadon Sancho will play for United again.

Sancho has been banished to train away from United’s first team after the Englishman angered ten Hag by claiming he was a “scapegoat” after he was dropped for the Arsenal loss.

Meanwhile, United forward Antony is on a leave of absence to fight allegations of domestic violence made against him by three women, which he strongly denies.

Antony’s problems came weeks after Mason Greenwood was forced to leave United on loan to Spanish side Getafe over domestic abuse allegations that were later dropped.

United fans have also continued their protests against the disliked Glazer family after the club’s owners appeared to halt their sale plan. AFP