MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag has tried to brush off the boos that greeted his resolution to substitute Rasmus Højlund throughout the 3-1 defeat to Brighton.
A disastrous day for Ten Hag was made worse when his resolution to exchange Højlund with Anthony Martial within the second half prompted loud boos from the house help. Afterwards, he insisted the response was right down to Højlund’s constructive efficiency on his full debut.
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“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.”
Højlund, 20, virtually marked his first United begin with a aim however had a first-half equaliser dominated out by VAR. The £72 million ($89m) summer time signing needed to wait to make his debut after arriving from Atalanta with a again damage and Ten Hag stated he was not able to taking part in the total 90 minutes towards Brighton.
“Everyone knows he came in with a small issue,” he added.
“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 will get injured as a result of he’s not able to taking part in 90 minutes then we’re a lot farther away than the place we wish to be.”
Ten Hag was also quick to dismiss a suggestion the boos were for Martial, who struggled to make an impact after coming on.
“I feel it was as a result of Rasmus Højlund got here off however I do not wish to focus on that so I do not know,” said Ten Hag.
“I feel Anthony Martial final yr each time he performed he had a really constructive impact on our video games. We even virtually misplaced no video games with Anthony Martial on the pitch, so if that is the actual fact, then I do not perceive as a result of when he’s match he will certainly contribute.”