They are our regular customers, after all they were looking forward to using Wan-Bissaka that day”:
Brighton star Mitoma sent a matchday warning to Arsenal fans ahead of this weekend’s clash
Whenever Manchester United have faced Brighton lately, there has been a sense of anticipation about what might – and often does – happen.
Ralf Rangnick, in his penultimate game as interim boss in 2022, found himself and his team-mates well and truly humiliated, before Erik ten Hag was knocked out by Brighton in the First experience in the Premier League.
Chuck in their troubled FA Cup semi-final – which had to be decided by penalties – and their 1-0 defeat at the AMEX Stadium and that sense of foreboding was not misplaced.
United’s traveling fans chanted loudly as they told the players they were ‘unfit to wear the shirt’ – and, Bruno Fernandes agreed with them.
There have been dark days for Manchester United – last season’s 4-0 loss to Brentford was only marginally better – but it was alarming. One of the most glaring problems United face at the AMEX stadium – where United have never beaten Brighton in front of a crowd – is the significant difference in work rate.
Time and time again, Brighton found – with ease – overloads and mismatches, with Diogo Dalot particularly exposed on United’s right flank.
But it’s not just him. Let’s take an example here before Brighton scored their first goal when two players sat freely on the edge of the box to attempt a shot but were ultimately blocked in the path of Moises Caicedo – out of sight – who reacted the fastest, being sent onto the field from afar to score a goal. The score is 1-0.
Not only was the pace of work a major issue – the cause of the fans’ lack of effort – but there was also the slow process of building United’s squad, which meant Brighton harassed and harassed them for To the end of life. Perhaps seen as a scapegoat, Anthony Elanga was hooked at halftime after recording an astonishing 14% passing accuracy – making it just one of seven passes he try to finish.
Ultimately, Brighton’s expected goals in open play was recorded as 2.50. United came in with a measly 0.51 rate.
So not only are they indifferent in defense but so is their attacking play.
Much of the defensive focus has been on the shortcomings of the full-backs, but in reality it was Victor Lindelof’s lax positioning that often saw Brighton swarm the defense and break quickly. Wing play is vital to Brighton’s success and with Dalot involved again, he will need a lot more help from those ahead and behind him.
Brighton’s strength lies in their pressing speed and they overwhelmed United here, so much so that when Marc Cucurella scored from outside the box to make it 2-0, United were 4-0 down after 11 minutes because there is nothing they can do. It. stop spinning.
Bleeding from the nose after their first four shots, Brighton then hit the post and came close to Danny Welbeck again in a performance that, truth be told, could have been a six or seven.
“I tell you, who cares if the Gypsy King retires, what do you say to United, why don’t they retire – get down!” United Tyson Fury fans get angry on Instagram.
Alan Shearer added on Match of the Day that night: “They were a mess, Manchester United, they were a shame. “And if he hasn’t done so already, Ralf Rangnick should bring his players in tomorrow and show them how Brighton have performed. Because that’s what dedicated football players aim for
