Manchester United fans voiced their frustration following a gut-wrenching defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, with much of the ire directed at one of their defenders.
In a dramatic end to their Premier League match, United conceded a critical goal in the 95th minute, with Brighton’s Joao Pedro securing a last-minute 2-1 victory.
This loss deeply disappointed United supporters, especially coming just a week after a narrow but encouraging win over Fulham in their season opener.
The previous week’s victory, highlighted by a late goal from new signing Joshua Zirkzee for a 1-0 win, had raised hopes for the new campaign.
However, this optimism was quickly overshadowed by the team’s poor performance against Brighton, raising concerns about squad consistency.
After the defeat, criticism from the United fanbase spread rapidly on social media, with much of the anger aimed at Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot.
Fans highlighted Dalot’s defensive lapse leading up to Brighton’s winning goal, accusing him of poor positioning and failing to properly mark Pedro.
Many argued that his oversight allowed Pedro to find the space needed to score the decisive goal.
The backlash was vocal, with one fan tweeting, “This is what happens when you overhype average players like Dalot.
His positioning mistake shows a lack of focus. This isn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last.”
Another sarcastically commented, “Dalot at the back post AGAIN… but whatever, I’m done.” A third fan expressed frustration with United’s defensive issues, noting, “There are three players unmarked at the back post, but Dalot lets the guy get in 5 yards in the box and doesn’t even try to block it.”
Dalot, who made 50 appearances and scored three goals for United last season, now faces intense scrutiny for his mistake against Brighton.
Despite contributing to seven clean sheets last season, this error has cast doubt on his reliability in crucial moments, intensifying concerns about United’s defensive struggles.
Brighton’s win was more than just a victory; it was a statement of intent. After an impressive 3-0 win over Everton in their season opener, defeating Manchester United marked their second consecutive victory and temporarily placed them at the top of the Premier League standings.
This strong start highlights Brighton’s ambitions and signals they should not be underestimated.
Looking ahead, Manchester United faces a challenging run of fixtures that could significantly impact their early-season form, including a highly anticipated clash with arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
This match will be the first time United faces Liverpool under new manager Arne Slot, who took over in June. It will be a crucial test of United’s resilience as they aim to recover from the disappointment against Brighton.
The intense focus on Dalot reflects the high expectations at Manchester United. In a club where every performance is scrutinized and every mistake amplified, the pressure to perform consistently is immense.
As the season progresses, Dalot and his teammates will need to show resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks.
Whether they can meet these challenges and regain the trust of their supporters remains to be seen, but the upcoming fixtures will undoubtedly test their character and resolve.
