Ralf Rangnick insisted the Manchester United players were following his instructions despite seeing his side fall to a 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
United shipped four or more goals for the sixth time in their last 30 Premier League games and have now failed to win 17 of their 28 games during Rangnick's spell as interim manager.
The German said United couldn't deal with Brighton's wing-backs in the first half and at the break he made two changes, bringing Fred and Edinson Cavani on for Nemanja Matic and Anthony Elanga.