3 reasons why Manchester United lost against Brighton

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Premier League
De Gea looking dejected

#1 It's time to get Jesse Lingard on for Juan Mata

Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Premier League
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United - Premier League

It is quite difficult to discern what exactly Juan Mata is doing on the right side of the pitch for Manchester United. He was never a fast player and with age, he has gotten even slower. However, Jose Mourinho has started him in both games so far.

Mata has failed to do anything of note over the two fixtures. He failed to pop up in spaces that could have threatened the Brighton defence- something which Jesse Lingard seems to be able to do with ease.

There is no mobility when Mata is playing alongside Pogba, Fred and Andreas Pereira. Fred and Pereira were negative in their approach and Mata being stuck in a swamp on one side, failing to offer width or penetration was a frustrating thing to behold.

Jesse Lingard is a smart player and he proved this over the course of the last season. Why he does not get the nod ahead of Juan Mata should baffle everyone if this goes on.

Lingard is perhaps the only Manchester United player who makes daring runs that can upend defences and he has the ability to hit the target from range and is also a great passer of the ball.

It's time for Manchester United to get their act together and Jesse Lingard should be at the centre of the new movement.

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