An embarrassing loss at home to Brighton was quickly followed by a fan backlash over a bid for Mark Arnautovic

Erik ten Hag has been given a crash course in what to expect at Manchester United in only his first week of meaningful action. Defeat to Brighton in their opening game of the season marked the end of his honeymoon and laid the foundation for the most turbulent few days of his short Old Trafford reign.

“I would be more in panic when there wasn’t panic because we have to win,” the Dutchman said ahead of Saturday’s visit to Brentford.

That game already has a sense of “must-win” about it – particularly with Liverpool next up a week on Monday.

Ten Hag described it as a “hell of a job” after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat – but even he must have been taken aback at the reaction following a summer that has largely been injected with optimism since his arrival.

Transfer market trauma

He didn’t help his own cause by pursuing a controversial move for Marko Arnautovic, who prompted furious fans to inundate chief executive, Richard Arnold, in protest.

Meanwhile, the protracted hunt for Frenkie de Jong has defined Ten Hag’s first transfer window – and the success or failure of United’s bid to secure the Netherlands international could prove the pivotal moment of their new manager’s debut campaign.

United are closing in on Juventus midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, with football director, John Murtough, travelling to Turin for advanced talks. But the fear among supporters is that the France international ultimately ends up an alternative, rather than addition to Ten Hag’s top target.

The move for Rabiot began before the Brighton game, so was not a knee-jerk reaction to the impotence of United’s midfield in the face of Moises Caicedo.

But he is still symptomatic of the failure to get their business done in time for the start of the season.

“It was better to get the players in earlier because then you get them earlier in the process,” said Ten Hag. “Now in the department of midfield and offence you have seen when we have one injury then we have a problem. That’s clear.”

AdvertisementEriksen's position & Ronaldo's return

Increasingly, Ten Hag is the one having to answer for United’s transfer mis-steps.

His preference is to focus on the pitch and the processes he is trying to make second nature to the players he inherited in his attempt to inject a modern, high-pressing system in which his side dominate possession.

Players have reported that training this week has been intense, with Ten Hag breaking down the specifics of an error-strewn opening fixture.

The added control they had when Christian Eriksen dropped into a deeper role in the second half was notable – and there is a good chance the Dane will start there against Brentford.

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to impress with his application in training – and it seems likely he will be at the point of attack after starting on the bench last week.

Rabiot to the rescue?

But if Ten Hag is to make a meaningful change, it is accepted new recruits are vital, with De Jong seen as the most important part of his planned system – a midfielder capable of collecting the ball in deep areas and building play.

Rabiot can do similar, even if he is not of the calibre of De Jong.

Despite the Juventus midfielder’s reputation for being difficult, United only stepped up their interest after receiving positive reports about his character.

If he is an addition to De Jong, or a De Jong-type, it is easy to see how he would bolster the options in the middle of pitch.

GettyThe Arnautovic debacle

Meanwhile, the move for Arnautovic, at the age of 33, pointed to Ten Hag’s desperation to bolster his attack – as well as suggesting his limited budget.

While the fact the Austria forward was known to manager and his assistant, Steve McClaren, after working with him at FC Twente, was a factor in United’s interest – so was an expected price tag of around £8 million ($9.7m).

Bologna’s attempts to drive up his valuation – as well as supporter uproar – contributed to the pursuit being quickly abandoned.

Still, it will have been a lesson to Ten Hag as to the level of scrutiny placed on his every move in the job.