MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag has tried to brush off the boos that greeted his dedication to replace Rasmus Højlund at some level of the three-1 defeat to Brighton.

A disastrous day for Ten Hag change into made worse when his dedication to interchange Højlund with Anthony Martial within the second half precipitated loud boos from the dwelling make stronger. Afterwards, he insisted the reaction change into down to Højlund’s definite efficiency on his plump debut.

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“I deem it change into definite,” Ten Hag said. “You glimpse the followers within the first second in Used Trafford, the reception for [Højlund] change into substantial. I deem he performed very correctly. It be loyal they supply this signal, this message. This will give Rasmus perception.”

Højlund, 20, almost marked his first United commence with a purpose but had a first-half equaliser ruled out by VAR. The £72 million ($89m) summer signing needed to serve to slay his debut after strolling back from Atalanta with a serve shatter and Ten Hag said he change into no longer able to playing the plump 90 minutes against Brighton.

“All people knows he got here in with a little divulge,” he added.

“We constructed him over the final three or four weeks but he’s no longer ready for an complete game and we include many video games to play at short peep, so we need to keep the health.

“If he gets injured because he’s no longer able to playing 90 minutes then we’re worthy farther away than the put we’re desirous to be.”

Ten Hag change into also lickety-split to push aside a recommendation the boos include been for Martial, who struggled to slay an impact after coming on.

“I deem it change into because Rasmus Højlund got here off but I earn no longer are desirous to focus on that so I earn no longer know,” said Ten Hag.

“I deem Anthony Martial final year at any time when he played he had a extremely definite cease on our video games. We even almost misplaced no video games with Anthony Martial on the pitch, so if that is the truth, then I earn no longer realize because when he’s match he’ll positively make a contribution.”