Manchester United fans have called on Erik ten Hag to start giving Facundo Pellistri more game time. The Uruguay international was left on the bench for the entirety of the Red Devils’ 1-0 defeat to Brighton on Thursday night. And he’s still made just nine appearances for the club since his move from Penarol in 2020. A loan exit looks to be on the cards for the 21-year-old as a result, with the summer transfer window edging closer.
Manchester United lost 1-0 to Brighton on Thursday night, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring a late penalty to give Roberto De Zerbi’s side all three points.
And Red Devils fans have taken to social media to express their bemusement at Ten Hag’s decision to leave Pellistri on the bench.
“I’m convinced Pellistri doesn’t actually exist and that he’s just a figment of all of our imaginations,” were the words of @UtdE11is.
“Why doesn’t Pellistri get a go in a similar role to how garnacho was used previously?” said @sambillings.
“Why does this man hate Pellistri? Free him,” cried @TanishaMilton.
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“Can someone tell me what more does Weghorst offers us than Pellistri? Because I’m struggling to find one thing,” stated @UTDEriksen.
“Ten Hag could’ve easily moved Rashford to the center with Sancho on the left and Pellistri on the right but NO he brought on Weghorst,” moaned @papakay168.
@RedDevilize was angry, too, saying: “Pellistri consistently makes an instant impact on the game every time he’s given the chance,yet for some reason Ten Hag keeps choosing to bring Weghorst on instead.”
User @JennyYork1 said: “I will say it again Me as a coach there’s no way I will ever play Weghorst ahead over Pellistri… Never.”
And @KIshekareire suggested: “Maybe instead of starting Martial or Weghost (sic) let Coach trust Pellistri with some minutes.”
United signed Pellistri back in 2020.
But the youngster has struggled for regular game time at Old Trafford in the years since – despite being a key player for his country.
Pellistri last featured for United in their 2-2 draw with Sevilla.
And that appearance came just over a week after he’d been introduced late on in the Red Devils’ chastening 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Pellistri has had some discipline problems, however, picking up three yellow cards from his last eight matches.
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His absence is all the more stranger given Ten Hag waxed lyrical over the youngster in March.
The Dutchman said: “He is the example by deserving his position by performance on the training [ground].
“And I said the other day, I did not select him for Liverpool and it was not even totally justified because he was training that well.
“Now this was his moment to come on because of a longer period he performed in training.
“What impressed me was he came on and, straight [away], showed himself.”
Meanwhile, after United’s defeat to Brighton, Ten Hag admitted his side still have a ‘long way to go’ in order to become the team they used to be.
“The last five games until tonight, we had four wins and one draw,” said the Dutchman.
“So, I think we were in a good run. And I think we are improving.
“As you see also today, if you see [the] first half, we should have gone up [in the game], we didn’t do, but we created our chances.
“So, we still have a way to go, [we need to] be more clinical and then we have to stay focused until the end of the game.”
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