10 Things Erik ten Hag Must Change If He Wants To Challenge Man City and Liverpool For Epl title

Manchester United's fans' hope and expectations were high on Erik ten Hag before their showdown against the visitor Brighton on Sunday afternoon but got truncated the moment they were down behind with two goals from Pascal Gross who put Brighton ahead in 30 and 39 minutes respectively.

The supporters were captured on camera from the stand fuming and wrestling among themselves over the loss in the curtain-raised match against the Seagulls.

Last season and the ones before the arrival of Erik ten Hag were nightmares the Red Devils supporters are trying to get off from, it appeared ridiculously getting a such result from the high-profiled manager on his first match.

Supporters have been coming a long way bearing the trophy-less seasons, it's understandable that they want the return of Sir Alex Ferguson's days at Old Trafford when they can smile again. But they need to understand the fact that Erik ten Hag is there for rebuilding and not trophies winning.

The team has to be rebuilt from scratch to build a team that can compete for major trophies in 3 to 4 years. Other teams have done it before and it is achievable for the Red Devils.

Before the arrival of Jùrgen Klopp at Liverpool, the team suffered trophy-drought seasons and their team scouts kept on recruiting ineffective and unsuitable players who always lag in the trend.

Jürgen Klopp took over from Brendan Rodgers on October 8th, 2015, and they finished the season 8th on the table behind the likes of West Ham and Southampton who would be shivering at the thought of coming up against the Merseyside now.

Their journey to the top was carefully planned based on intelligent recruitment and molded together with a vibrant team spirit. Arsenal has been under construction in the hand of Mikel Arteta and they are getting it right at the moment.

These are the things to do for Manchester United to get right.

* Manchester United need to be truthful with themselves if they truly need Cristiano Ronaldo in their rebuilding project. The Portuguese star has made it clear that he wants to seek new challenges elsewhere. Keeping Ronaldo around can crumble the team.

Ronaldo is a good player who is ready to give it all it takes to win for his team. But the Manchester United team cannot be built around him if they are ready for the rebuilding. There are always controversies whenever he plays and when he is benched.

In an interview on sky sports, his former teammate Wayne Rooney Implored Manchester United to part ways with the 5 times Ballon D'or winner if they are to get things right on and off the pitch.

* Manchester United should recruit players intelligently. This is the toughest of all the leagues and all players cannot fit in the tempo. Brendan Rodgers recruited almost all the Southampton players to Liverpool and it didn't take the team anywhere. Arteta parted ways with Unai Emery's recruitment.

* It is part of the coaching profession to gamble on the combination of players on the pitch but some things are not just meant to work together. Pairing Fred with Scott McTominay, featuring Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire, and other infamous decisions.

Manchester United can be great again. But supporters have to keep on supporting with the belief that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.