Attitude not good enough from beaten United, admits Pogba

Published August 21, 2018
BRIGHTON: Brighton & Hove Albion’s Glenn Murray (second L) vies for the ball with Manchester United’s Eric Bailly during their Premier League match at the American Express Community Stadium.—Reuters
BRIGHTON: Brighton & Hove Albion’s Glenn Murray (second L) vies for the ball with Manchester United’s Eric Bailly during their Premier League match at the American Express Community Stadium.—Reuters

BRIGHTON: Manchester United captain Paul Pogba admitted his side didn’t have the right attitude in losing 3-2 to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday due to a shambolic defensive display.

For the first time in nearly two years, Jose Mourinho’s men conceded more than twice with all three Brighton goals arriving in a 20-minute span before half-time through Glenn Murray, Shane Duffy and a Pascal Gross penalty.

“They had more hunger than us. I put myself first, that my attitude wasn’t right enough. We made mistakes we shouldn’t make,” said Pogba, whose penalty deep into stoppage time proved too little, too late.

United manager Mourinho warned of a “difficult” season when he wasn’t backed in the transfer market before the deadline for Premier League clubs closed before the opening weekend of the season.

Strengthening the heart of his defence was Mourinho’s priority and it showed as Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly endured a torrid afternoon on England’s south coast.

Bailly was particularly exposed and, having conceded a needless corner that led to Duffy’s first Premier League goal, he blundered in to foul Gross, who put away the penalty via David de Gea’s leg on the stroke of halftime.

Although Romelu Lukaku had earlier reduced the deficit with a trademark header, United looked ill-equipped to mount a comeback and were often second best to the ball as they fell three points behind defending champions Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur just two games into the new campaign.

Mourinho will now demand an instant reaction when United host Tottenham in their next game.

“We were punished by the mistakes we made. For me that’s the story of the game,” said Mourinho. “We made incredible mistakes in some crucial moments. Mistakes that killed us.”

Brighton’s Murray said their 3-1 home win over United last season gave them confidence that could spring another surprise.

“It was all about the balls being played in to me, I got quality support,” said the striker.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.