Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s nervy performance after Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Brighton.
Wan-Bissaka started his first Premier League game of the season, having sat out the opening defeat to former club Crystal Palace yet his errors led to the penalty that Neal Maupay converted and Solly March’s 95th minute equaliser.
March was unmarked at the far post to steer in Adam Webster’s cross when United had seven players inside their own area to Brighton’s four. Solskjaer had sent on Eric Bailly for Mason Greenwood and switched to a back five in an effort to hold onto United’s 2-1 advantage but the tactical switch invited more pressure.
Wan-Bissaka was defensively near-flawless in his first season with United but was regularly exploited by Brighton and Solskjaer was asked about the right-back’s shaky display.
“We’ve got our team shape, of course, and we don’t stop enough crosses down that left-hand side and we let too many crosses in,” Solskjaer said. “It’s also down to the team shape and the sharpness. So for me we need to work more from the front to stop crosses from the sides.
Aaron is improving as a defender and is one of the best one-against-one. He’s practising defending back stick. He’s a joy to work with, he wants to learn, so he’ll improve. And, of course, the chance towards the end there he needs help.
