Erik ten Hag reacts to Manchester United fans booing decision to substitute Rasmus Hojlund

Erik ten Hag regarded the booing of Rasmus Hojlund's removal in Manchester United's 3-1 home defeat to Brighton as a positive.

Thousands of United supporters voiced their disapproval at full debutant Hojlund's substitution with United 2-0 down in the 64th minute, as Anthony Martial replaced him.

Martial has scored 17 goals for United in the last three years and was anodyne again in his fourth scoreless appearance of the season.

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Hojlund had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time as Marcus Rashford took the ball over the goal line but the 20-year-old's removal was pre-planned as he signed for United having suffered a stress fracture to his back in training with former club Atalanta.

"I think it was positive," Ten Hag said of the reaction to Hojlund's withdrawal. "You see the fans in the first moment in Old Trafford, the reception for him was great, I think he performed very well, it's good they give this signal, this message, it will give Rasmus belief.

"But everyone knows he came in with a small issue, we built him over the last three or four weeks. He is not ready for a whole game and we have many games to play at short notice, so we have to build the fitness.t"

When it was suggested the cacophony of boos was amplified by the identity of Hojlund's replacement, Ten Hag replied: "I think it was because Rasmus Hojlund came off but I don't want to discuss that, so I don't know.

"But I think Anthony Martial last year, every time he played he had a very positive effect on our games. We even almost lost no games with Anthony Martial on the pitch.

"So if that's the fact, then I don't understand. Because when