Rasmus Hojlund made an encouraging home debut in Manchester United’s defeat against Brighton (Picture: Getty)
Rasmus Hojlund has vowed that Manchester United will ‘rise again’ after Saturday’s sobering 3-1 home defeat against Brighton.
A miserable start to the season took another miserable turn at Old Trafford after the Seagulls recorded their fourth consecutive win over United side who had no answer to the fluidity and inventiveness of Roberto De Zerbi’s well oiled machine.
Hojlund did at least offer some cause for optimism on his home debut following his £72million summer transfer from Atalanta.
The Denmark international made an encouraging cameo as a second half substitute against Arsenal prior to the international break and was to the fore against Brighton.
Hojlund thought he had dragged his side back into the contest with a first-half equaliser only for VAR to intervene and decide that Marcus Rashford had let the ball slip out of play by the narrowest of margins.
Erik ten Hag’s decision to bring on Anthony Martial against Brighton was booed by the home crowd (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag brought a premature end to Hojlund’s afternoon when he withdrew the striker just before the midway point in the second period, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
Despite an ultimately disappointing afternoon, Hojlund posts a defiant message on Instagram, which read: ‘We will rise again. Thanks for the Warm welcome Old Trafford.’
An embattled Ten Hag, meanwhile, insisted the reaction which greeted Hojlund’s substitution represented a positive.
‘I think it was positive,’ Ten Hag said when asked about the boos towards his decision to replace Hojlund.
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‘You see the fans from the first moment at Old Trafford, the reception was great. He performed very well.
‘I think it’s good that they gave this signal, this message. It’ll give him belief, Rasmus. But everyone knows he came with a small issue. We built him over last three, four weeks, he’s not ready for full game.
‘We have many games to play in a short period, we also have to build his fitness.’
Asked if the negative reaction could be perceived as being towards Martial, Ten Hag replied: ‘I think it was because Rasmus Hojlund came off. I don’t want to discuss that.
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‘I think Martial last year every time when he played he had very positive effect on our games. I think we almost did not lose a game with Anthony Martial on the pitch, so if that’s the fact then I don’t understand, because when he is fit he definitely contributes.
‘At this moment he’s not top fit and he’s improving. I’m sure, when he is 100 per cent fit he will contribute again like last season.
‘He has to make also his own luck and be available and be consistently available and then his form will be better. Every time last year when he was playing he affected our game in a positive way. I hope he stays fit and he will contribute to our game.’
MORE : Erik ten Hag criticised for ‘disjointed’ Manchester United display, by Mike Phelan
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