And so, as Cristiano Ronaldo had declared, the king was back. Indeed, Old Trafford witnessed a clinical display by a player who has proved prolific in Manchester United games. Not him, admittedly. Pascal Gross became the first footballer to score in United matches in the reigns of Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and now Erik ten Hag. If it suggests a switch in United’s transfer policy, from the current approach of bidding for anyone with an Ajax connection to going for Gross, may be a logical damage-limitation strategy, his double was delivered while Ronaldo glowered on from the bench.
While Ten Hag brought on the king who had contemplated abdication, to a telling mixture of cheers and jeers, it felt a cunning ploy to prevent him from leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle this week. Instead, Ronaldo first witnessed and then participated in a dispiriting start to a new era. Beaten 4-0 by Brighton in May, United only lost 2-1 to them in August but, in its own way, this was just as depressing. “A new season and a new story,” Ten Hag began his programme notes. It was only half true. If the tale was familiar, the indignities differed in the detail. This was Brighton’s maiden win at Old Trafford. United were almost behind after 15 seconds when Diogo Dalot blundered.
