The Media Evaluate: Manchester United

Albion’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Previous Trafford was not solely the primary sport on Match of the Day but in addition the lead story in many of the Sunday papers’ sports activities sections. And why not? It was the type of end result and efficiency to impress even probably the most jaded of journalists.

The headlines and images instructed that the sports activities editors had been extra enthusiastic about a disaster at United than the visiting workforce’s show. However the skilled and educated writers within the Previous Trafford press field all had lavish reward for Roberto De Zerbi’s males.

The Mail on Sunday’s Oliver Holt wrote that “there was no shock end result at Previous Trafford. As most had anticipated, Brighton gained. As most had anticipated, the better-owned, better-run, better-managed membership triumphed over an organisation that’s nonetheless attempting to recollect what being a soccer membership means.

“Brighton… epitomise a lot that’s good about soccer and have develop into probably the most achieved ball-playing facet within the Premier League. Underneath their supervisor, Roberto De Zerbi, they’ve develop into a workforce that the remainder of soccer gazes upon in awe and research in school rooms.

“There have been lengthy durations of their 3-1 victory when Brighton toyed with United. There have been lengthy durations when United couldn’t get wherever close to them. Brighton are so courageous in possession and so assured that it appears like an training and a privilege each time you watch them. They had been mesmerising yesterday.

“They’re a workforce gamers need to play for. Ansu Fati, as soon as hailed because the successor to Lionel Messi earlier than accidents intervened, got here off the bench to make his debut yesterday and practically scored late on. Every little thing is imbued with optimism at Brighton.”

The Sunday Telegraph’s man in Manchester (and a United fan) James Ducker, famous that “Brighton’s complete beginning XI price round £17 million which, put one other manner, is lower than 1 / 4 of what United paid for his or her exiled winger Jadon Sancho, who spent a part of his Saturday watching the membership’s Underneath-18 workforce at Carrington earlier than the senior workforce served up this collective shambles.

“Roberto De Zerbi didn’t even have entry to lots of his finest gamers both. Julio Enciso, Solly March and Pervis Estupinan had been lacking and Evan Ferguson, scorer of a hat-trick in opposition to Newcastle earlier than the worldwide break, was solely match sufficient for a spot on the bench. Brighton’s complete central midfield, allow us to not overlook, was ripped out in the summertime. Mahmoud Dahoud was the one participant who began that De Zerbi had signed.

“Certain, De Zerbi took over a functioning workforce and membership when he changed Graham Potter 12 months in the past on Monday, and never the poisonous mess Erik ten Hag inherited in Manchester. However the Italian’s work on the south coast in double-quick time and on a fraction of the price range Ten Hag has loved at Previous Trafford is startling.

“Brighton may have scored 5 – 6, with Andre Onana – who ought to have completed higher for the third scored by Joao Pedro – denying Kaoru Mitoma, Ferguson and Ansu Fati, making his debut on mortgage from Barcelona. 

“Brighton are a phenomenal assemble: completely unflustered in possession and all the time, it appears, with an outlet.”

In The Sunday Occasions, James Gheerbrant wrote that “seldom has soccer supplied such an object lesson in how sensible apply can transcend monetary inequality as is encapsulated within the quick rivalry between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United. This was the fourth consecutive Premier League win for the south coast membership in opposition to their highly effective however prodigal opponents.

“This was not a horrible efficiency by United, merely one during which they had been outclassed within the medical arts. Brighton had fewer photographs, however had been superior in issues of possession and precision: exerting management by means of their consolation on the ball, and punishing United with unerring execution within the closing third. In these points, and that two assists got here from Tariq Lamptey, enjoying out of place at left again, they bore the stamp of Roberto De Zerbi’s wonderful teaching.”

Columnist Martin Samuel added: “The place had been Brighton higher? In every single place, frankly. Not solely on the pitch, however off it, too. The substitutes’ bench appeared stronger, the recruitment is plainly smarter, and De Zerbi’s use of his personnel is courageous and revolutionary. Think about Brighton fielding an ostensibly weakened workforce at Previous Trafford and profitable as comfy as this.“ 

The Observer’s multi-faceted author-journalist Jamie Jackson heard candy music. “’Can we play you each week,’ sang the delirious Brighton followers, whose workforce moved Manchester United to close disaster territory with this breeze of a victory,” he wrote.

“Brighton, rightly, ended the sport cock-a-hoop. Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and João Pedro scored for the guests who had been threatened solely sporadically other than the opening quarter-hour. Brighton flowed throughout the pitch, shifting the ball by means of their opponents as if executing a coaching train.”

In The Solar on Sunday, long-time United watcher Neil Custis identified that Albion “had been the final workforce to inflict a league defeat on the Pink Devils right here in Ten Hag’s first sport in cost final season.

“Now they’ve completed it once more, and in much more emphatic fashion. They’ve now overwhelmed them 4 instances on the bounce within the league. Objectives from ex-United ahead Danny Welbeck on 20 minutes, Pascal Gross after 53 and Joao Pedro on 71 did the harm.

“After a really shiny begin, United had been trying simple to play by means of. The Seagulls did simply that opening the scoring as they flew by means of the massed purple shirts with a superb transfer that led to the opener.

“It began with a throw-in inside their very own half and completed simply lower than a minute later with a Welbeck end inside United’s personal field. In between there have been 17 passes. The final two noticed Welbeck slide Simon Adingra down the fitting and dart into the field to fulfill the return which Adam Lallana expertly dummied to permit the previous Pink a first-time end. Wow!

“Brighton actually are one of many Premier League’s must-watch groups when they’re in full circulate, which beneath De Zerbi they usually are. A document sixth-place end final season has taken them into the Europa League. 

“The Seagulls additionally arguably had been the higher facet within the FA Cup semi-final which completed goalless earlier than United gained on penalties. They’ve begun this marketing campaign with 4 wins out of 5, scoring 15 targets within the course of. Brighton didn’t even have all their finest gamers on the pitch. But that they had United on the again foot.

“United had been additional behind thanks to a different slick transfer from the guests. Once more they saved the ball comfortably earlier than stepping up the gears as Kaoru Mitoma skidded inside, slipped a ball to Tariq Lamptey, whose sq. ball was introduced beneath the spell of Gross. Feinting to shoot, he left Lisandro Martinez trying into house because the ball rolled throughout him and Gross completed.

“Joao Pedro began to empty the bottom as he struck Brighton’s third. Fast on the break, Lamptey was the person offering the help once more from the left with a pull again for Pedro to fulfill first time with a thumping shot previous Andre Onana.”