Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, faced the ire of home fans during a recent match against Brighton as he made a controversial substitution that didn’t sit well with supporters. The decision to replace Rasmus Hojlund with Anthony Martial was met with loud boos at Old Trafford.
Danish forward Hojlund, making his home debut for the club, had shown promise throughout the game and even had a goal disallowed just before halftime. However, his performance was one of the few highlights on a disappointing day for the team. When Manchester United found themselves 2-0 down, Ten Hag’s choice to bring in Martial, the £72 million summer signing from Atalanta, was met with strong disapproval.
Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker had previously warned Ten Hag that fans would demand Hojlund’s inclusion in the starting lineup against Brighton, asserting that there was no place for Martial in the side.
Hojlund, praised by fellow Dane and former United player Peter Schmeichel, has shown tremendous potential. Schmeichel highlighted Hojlund’s physicality, technical skills, and tactical aptitude, and expressed optimism about his future at the club.
Despite a promising start by Manchester United, they fell behind to Brighton in the 20th minute and ended the match with a 1-3 loss at home.
The substitution by Ten Hag and the subsequent reaction from fans have intensified the scrutiny on his decisions as Manchester United manager. The incident has left fans divided and questioning the team’s direction under his leadership.
Manchester United have lost for the third time in six games and currently sit 12th on the premier league table.
