Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has suggested that he liked how Manchester United fans reacted to the substitution of Rasmus Hojlund.
United unleashed summer signing Rasmus Hojlund against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.
The big-money addition from Atalanta was delayed from making a Premier League debut having arrived with an injury problem.
Hojlund enjoyed a promising cameo on his debut against Arsenal and then featured for Denmark during the international break.
The timing felt right for Hojlund to start against Brighton and Hove Albion, with Erik ten Hag duly obliging.
Rasmus Hojlund endures frustrating full Manchester United debut
Hojlund partnered Marcus Rashford up top against Brighton with Ten Hag going for something of a diamond in midfield behind two strikers.
The Dane did have the ball in the net in the first half as he prodded home from close range.
However, Hojlund’s dream debut goal was taken away from him as Rashford was adjudged to have taken the ball out of play before cutting it back to Hojlund.
That was as close as Hojlund came to opening his United account, failing to register a shot on target as United fell to a 3-1 defeat.
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Hojlund did register two key passes but what looked like a dream Old Trafford debut became a rather frustrating day.
Erik ten Hag reacts to United booing
Hojlund was substituted in favour of Anthony Martial in the second half, but only after a chorus of boos from United supporters.
This wasn’t so much about Martial, but rather the belief that Hojlund should have been kept on the pitch with United chasing goals.
Ten Hag doesn’t seem at all fazed though and told BBC Sport that he actually thinks the booing was a positive.
The Dutchman is taking the stance that the United fans were so impressed with Hojliund that the booing for his departure was ‘very good’.
Ten Hag felt that Hojlund ‘performed very well’, but he should maybe feel a little concerned that United fans are booing his decision just weeks into the new season.
“I think it was very good,” said Ten Hag. “Hojlund – the crowd embraced his performance. First performance at Old Trafford so it’s very good that he gets that reception. He performed very well and we’re very happy,” he added.