Man United boss Erik ten Hag says defeat to Brighton due to players' lack of 'belief'

Erik ten Hag said a lack of self belief cost his Manchester United side as the Dutchman's Old Trafford reign got off to the worst possible start following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Pascal Gross scored twice in the first half for Brighton before an Alexis Mac Allister own goal gave United a glimmer of hope in the 68th minute, but Brighton held on for their first win at Old Trafford.

"I think it was a good start and then after [the first goal] we dropped down a level, dropped down in belief and we made mistakes and the opponent punished us," Ten Hag told reporters.

"We dropped down in belief in the first half and that cannot happen, you always have to believe in yourself and stick together as a team.

"We came back in the second half and we had to believe on the pitch and that was good to see. They have to deal with those setbacks and give themselves belief because they are really good players."

Wantaway striker Cristiano Ronaldo started on the bench before being introduced as a second-half substitute. Ten Hag defended his decision to leave the Portugal international out of the starting XI, saying he was not ready to play a full match after missing United's pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia.

Christian Eriksen was instead deployed as a 'false nine', with Ronaldo coming on in the 53rd minute.

"If there was an available striker, I would have played him," Ten Hag said. "Ronaldo is now maybe for 10 days in team training and too short for 90 minutes, so that is the reason we didn't start him.

"We considered Marcus Rashford as a striker but he had a really good season on the left side and he had two really good chances, but the typical nine wasn't available today."

United next face Brentford in the Premier League on August 13.

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