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Jose Mourinho's men were defeated 3-2 at Amex Stadium on Sunday which gave Manchester United an early blow in this season's Premier League title race. They have suffered defeat for a third league game in a row away as first-half goals from Glenn Murray, Shane Duffy, and Pascal Gross were sufficient for the hosts.
It was a defensive horror show from Manchester United defenders with Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof producing an error-prone display. Chris Hughton's men were deserved winner on the day as they capitalized on defensive errors and punished United. This is only the tenth time in Premier League history that Manchester United have conceded three first-half goals in a game and the first time since October 2015 vs Arsenal.
Manchester United produced another disjointed display with Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku struggling in attack. Paul and Fred also struggle to impose themselves in midfield and lost the ball on many occasions.
#3 United should have signed Toby Alderweireld
Manchester United's defence came under fierce criticism after their defeat at Brighton on Sunday. Jose Mourinho had spent almost the entire summer transfer window complaining about the club's lack of spending in the transfer window. He stressed the need for at least signing a central defender. However, the Manchester United board turned down Mourinho's plea as they chose not to sign Toby Alderweireld deeming his valuation by Tottenham as excessive.
Jose Mourinho had chosen to start Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof as his preferred central defenders in the new season. Against Brighton, they were playing in a two-man partnership together for the just second time which shows Mourinho's lack of trust even after signing both of them after his arrival at Manchester United.
Red Devils clearly lack a vocal leader at the back who would organise the backline. United's defence was threatened every time Brighton crossed the halfway line. The same Brighton that did not even manage a shot on target against Watford on the opening day of the Premier League. Victor Lindelof was put aside by Glen Murray quite easily for Brighton's opening goal whereas Bailly conceded a needless foul to gift the seagulls a penalty for their third goal.
Jose Mourinho while praising Eric Bailly in the pre-season game against Liverpool clearly suggested that he didn't consider Eric Bailly as a leader.
"I don't think he's a leader. I don't think anything goes to change with that. I think he's a team boy, a great boy, and an honest man, honest to put everything for the team and that is why we still have him and why he is going to stay with us." said Mourinho.
Although Eric Bailly clearly has the potential to be a top defender, sometimes he seems quite excitable and sometimes makes rash decisions. Having an experienced defender in Toby Alderweireld would have helped him who would have organized the Manchester United backline. It would have also solved United's problem of playing from the back as the Belgian is extremely comfortable with the ball also.
#2 Anthony Martial's continues to struggle
After the defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has reportedly "made a new plea" to Ed Woodward to sell Anthony Martial this summer.
The Manchester United forward cut a frustrated figure as Jose Mourinho's side slumped to an uninspiring defeat at Brighton over the weekend. Anthony Martial was strongly linked with a move away from Old Trafford earlier in the summer transfer window after leaving United’s pre-season tour of America early. Martial was even fined for his failure to report after the birth of his child.
The French international was an unused substitute in Manchester United’s opening game against Leicester City but was restored in starting eleven against Brighton on Sunday because of Alexis Sanchez’s absence because of an injury. However, he failed to capitalize on this opportunity and produced another lacklustre display as he was eventually substituted with half an hour remaining.
The signing of Alexis Sanchez in the January transfer window had a negative impact on Martial's progression and his agent has said the France international wanted to leave. Jose Mourinho on numerous occasion has lamented his lack of consistency. He never looked convinced when speaking about the Frenchman. He hasn't been able to always accommodate the French forward in his starting line-up with Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Rashford also options on the left wing. Jose Mourinho needs to play Anthony Martial every week to get the best out of him which seems quite unlikely given his lack of trust in him.
#1 The Paul Pogba saga rumbles on
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho might have hoped to subdue the growing speculation about Paul Pogba's future by placing the captain's armband on him but comments by Pogba himself, and the player's outspoken agent Mino Raiola, over the last few days have only added to the uncertainty surrounding the World Cup-winning midfielder.
After the match, speaking to media, Pogba acknowledged his poor individual performance in Manchester United's 3-2 loss at Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday. The French midfielder said he ''should have done much better'' and that his ''attitude wasn't right.'' Pogba lost the ball on numerous occasions as United produced a disjointed display. His lacklustre performance against the seagulls attracted plenty of criticism. Manchester United legend Paul Scholes lamented the ''lack of leaders in the team,'' and criticized Pogba for his inconsistent performances.
"There’s a lack of leaders in the team. We thought Paul Pogba might be the ideal candidate to be that leader but he wasn’t there today. He had another really poor game. He’s so inconsistent." said Paul Scholes.
And now, Pogba’s outspoken agent, Mino Raiola, has added to the turmoil around Manchester United by attacking Paul Scholes that the club’s former midfielder should be appointed sports director and advise Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, to sell the Frenchman.
There was already a question mark over the relationship between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba and latest incident certainly adds to the Manchester United chaos. If Manchester United are to achieve success on the pitch this season, this uncertainty surrounding Paul Pogba's future needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
